Yohan Castaing
Note : 94
The 2019 Domaine de l’A opens in the glass with aromas of sweet blackberries, cassis, spices, flowers and nicely integrated oak. Medium to full-bodied, pure and vibrant, with a fleshy texture and controlled power, it’s a seamless, serious wine that illustrates the estate’s upward trajectory. This is a complete wine that can age beautifully over the next decade.
Drink Date 2024 – 2030
Note : 94
Stéphane and Christine Derenoncourt’s 2019 Domaine de l’A is a real standout. A touch more Franc than in the past helps convey an added kick of brightness and energy that works so well in balancing the wine’s natural richness. The 2019 is classy and elegant, whit tremendous purity of fruit. The 2019 is terrific, but it also is going to need a few years in bottle to be at its best.
Drinking window 2026-2039
Note : 95
From one of my favorite estates in the Castillon region, the 2019 Domaine De L’A reveals a medium ruby hue as well as a brilliant array of red and black currants, tobacco leaf, sandalwood, and loamy earth, with that classic, savory minerality that seems to always show from this appellation. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it’s seamless, flawlessly balanced, has gorgeous tannins, and a great finish. As I’ve written about past vintages, don’t miss it. It will evolve for over two decades.
Note : 94/100
Un bouquet intense et saisissant de fruits à point et de café moulu, assez charnel, qui évoque les parfums d’un jardin de nuit. La bouche possède une énergie folle et contagieuse. En bouche, beaucoup de matière et une finale imposante, granulaire, qui donne envie de se lécher la voûte du palais.
Note : 94-96
Il présente un nez de fruits noirs, sur la cerise, avec une touche florale. Sa présentation est d’une beauté particulière. Parfaite concordance entre le nez et la bouche avec un corps uni, fuselé, d’une belle vibration de fruit avec de la tonalité et de l’intensité sur la finale d’une grande fraicheur. Peut-être le meilleur vin produit à ce jour par la propriété qui, dans ce millésime, bénéficie de l’apport d’une vigne de cabernet franc sur plateau calcaire qui lui donne une trame magnifique. Coup de Cœur.
Yohan Castaing
Note : 93
The 2020 Domaine de l’A, a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, is a standout example of what this estate can produce and will appeal to all serious aficionados of fine Bordeaux. The bouquet is slightly oaky and fresh, exhibiting elegant aromas of spices, violet, cassis and licorice. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced, this wine is fleshy and round with sweet tannins and has a long, penetrating and saline finish very influenced by its origin from calcareous soil. It will offer a broad drinking window.
Note : 94
The 2020 Domaine de L’A is impressive. Rich and ample, but still recovering from its bottling, the 2020 is packed with intensity. Dark red cherry, red plum, mocha, spice, licorice, menthol and mocha are all packed into its deceptively mid-weight frame. Cabernet Franc accents lift the finish nicely. Domaine de l’A is a wine that only blossoms with a few years in bottle. I expert that will be the case here as well.
Drinking window 2026-2040
Note : 95
Up with the finest vintages of this cuvée to date, the 2020 Domaine De L’A checks in as 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc from the western edge of the Castillon region. Aged in 70% new French oak, it has a brilliant perfume of crème de cassis, chalky minerality, spring flowers, and leafy tobacco. This deep purple-hued, medium to full-bodied, concentrated Castillon has building tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a gorgeous finish. It will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following 10-15 years.
Note : 93-94
Bouquet agréable, invitant révélant des nuances de bois de réglisse, de cannelle et de baies noires. Caractère suave et élégant en bouche. Le vin a de l’ampleur, des tannins soyeux et puissants ainsi qu’une structure acide rafraîchissante, soutenant l’expression aromatique de la finale ainsi que sa persistance. Un vin qui sait parfaitement allier charme, authenticité et puissance. 2027-2045
Note : 94
Aromas of plums and blackcurrants with dark chocolate, vanilla and bark. Some earthy undertones, too. Firm and textured with a plush mouth-feel, full body and chewy, powdery tannins. Deep and dark-fruited with a meaty structure and velvety finish. Try after 2025.