Chateau Barde-Haut 2020

Château Barde-Haut is a renowned Grand Cru Classé estate in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, known for its elegant, structured wines. The 2020 vintage is a stunning representation of Bordeaux’s ability to create rich, complex, and age-worthy wines, with a blend dominated by Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc. The vineyard's limestone and clay soils provide a strong mineral backbone to the wine, while the sunny 2020 growing season produced ripe, concentrated fruit with balanced acidity and refined tannins.

The result is a powerful yet refined wine with great depth, balancing ripe fruit with structure and minerality. The 2020 Château Barde-Haut can be enjoyed now for its bold fruit, but it also has tremendous ageing potential.

Appearance: Deep ruby with a purple hue, reflecting its concentration and youth.

Aroma: Intense and aromatic, with notes of blackberries, blackcurrants, and ripe plum, layered with complex undertones of cedar, tobacco, and graphite. Subtle hints of vanilla, baking spice, and earthy truffle emerge from the oak ageing, adding depth and sophistication.

Taste: Full-bodied, rich, and structured, the palate bursts with ripe black fruit balanced by savoury notes of graphite, cedar, and tobacco. The tannins are firm yet velvety, giving the wine a powerful structure, while a fresh acidity lifts the fruit, maintaining balance and elegance. A touch of dark chocolate and spice from the oak rounds out the flavour profile.

Finish: Long and complex, with lingering black fruit, spice, and earthy minerality. The fine-grained tannins and lively acidity ensure a clean, structured finish that will allow the wine to age gracefully for many years.

Pairings: 400g 9+MB seared wagyu striploin with garlic oyster fungi, truffle cream sugo, dried king brow, and marrow jus. The wine’s rich fruit, firm tannins, and savoury depth will pair beautifully with the marbled, flavourful wagyu, while its acidity cuts through the creamy truffle sugo.

Charred venison rack with mesquite, black cabbage, caramelised pearl onion, and parsley jus. The bold flavours of the venison will harmonise with the wine’s dark fruit and earthy character, while its structured tannins balance the richness of the dish.

Château Barde-Haut 2020 is a powerful yet elegant Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, showcasing the best of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. It’s a wine that can be enjoyed now with richly flavoured, hearty dishes, but it will also benefit from 10–15 years of cellaring, developing even more complexity over time.