- Matthew Jukes has awarded 30 wines with “gold medal” scores (18.5 and above).
- “Stocks are down so speed is of the essence,” advises Jukes.
- First Growths Haut Brion, Margaux and Mouton Rothschild receive his highest scores.
Matthew Jukes has released his in-depth Bordeaux 2020 report and scores, having tasted nearly 450 samples from various estates in his London office.
He describes 2020 as a “bizarre year” and affirms that, “there is excellence to be found both in the highest echelons down to simple petit château creations”.
Right vs Left Bank?
For Jukes, it is impossible “to state that any one sub-region lauded it over another. It is facile to suggest that it is a vintage typified by either Cabernet or Merlot, too”.
He revealed, however, that “volumes are approximately 20% down against 2019 on the Left Bank while the Right Bank fared slightly better particularly on those properties with clay-rich soils”.
Jukes called 2020 “a highly complex vintage”. It is “not a year in which you can simply reorder past favourites”, he said.
First Growth praise?
Three of the First Growths which have not been released yet – Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Haut Brion – have made it into his top-scoring wines with a score of 19.5-points.
“In 2020 Mouton is quintessential Mouton, Haut-Brion is an outlier in all respects and it shocks as much as it impresses, while Margaux also manages to hit the high notes while retaining its precise personality and signature,” according to Jukes.
He added that “all three are stunning wines […] but they could not be more different and this is exactly why I like them so much”.
And what about prices? Our latest article looks at what price would constitute “Fair Value” for the First Growths this campaign.
Further viewing
Liv-ex has conducted several interviews with leading critics on the subject of Bordeaux 2020.
For the interview with Neal Martin, click here.
For the interview with Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, click here.
For the interview with James Suckling, click here.
For the interview with Jancis Robinson MW, click here.
For the interview with Jane Anson, click here.
Our Bordeaux En Primeur 2020 page contains everything you need to know about this year’s campaign. You can also sign up for our daily En Primeur email alerts using the form below.
