The 2020 Boutisse is a gorgeous, wonderfully pure, elegant Saint-Emilion. Dark cherry/plum fruit, mocha, crushed rocks and blood orange are all beautifully delineated. The 2020 is silky and vibrant, with lively acids and tons of energy. Readers looking for a polished, mid-weight Saint-Emilion will adore this.

“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Boutisse comes out of the glass with exuberant notes of baked black plums, boysenberries and Morello cherries, plus suggestions of rose hip tea, fragrant soil, cinnamon stick and star anise. The full-bodied palate is rich and oh-so-plush, featuring a fantastic backbone of freshness and loads of spicy sparks to complement the black and red berry preserves, finishing long and mineral tinged. Beautiful.”

Always solid, the 2020 Château Boutisse is no exception and has a terrific, medium to full-bodied, balanced profile as well as textbook red and black fruits, some spicy oak and chocolate nuances, ripe tannins, and that classic Saint-Emilion chalky limestone quality on the finish. Based on 92% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Carmenère, aged in 30% new oak (with a small portion in amphora), it has the structured, age-worthy style of the vintage and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, and drink brilliantly over the following decade. It's in the same ballpark as the 2016 and 2019 and is worth seeking out.

Delivers crushed plum and blackberry fruit that roll through steadily, flanked with apple wood and cedar accents and backed by a subtle earthy hint on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenere. Drink now through 2030. 5,000 cases made, 850 cases imported.

A dark coffee-flavored wine with a dense structure, this has black fruits and solid tannins. The wine is still young, offering a powerful texture. Drink the wine from 2026.