Chateau Bonalgue Pomerol 2020

Tasting Notes

Pomerol is renowned for producing the highest expression of Merlot, and references to the “stones at Bonalgue” can be found as far back as the French Revolution. The modern history of the Château Bonalgue began in 1926 when the estate was acquired by the Bourette family. They completely restructured the vineyards to best capitalize on the property’s exceptional Pomerol terroir.

Today, Jean-Baptiste Bourette crafts a classic Merlot that has received acclaim from numerous national and international publications. While other Pomerol wines can achieve incredibly high prices (think Petrus and Le Pin), Château Bonalgue offers an opportunity to drink an exceptional Pomerol while remaining affordable.

The grapes for the 2020 Château Bonalgue Pomerol were hand harvested from the estate’s 9.5 hectares of gravelly-sand vineyards and undergo a strict selection before entering the winery. Vinification is carried out in stainless steel and cement vats on a plot-by-plot basis with pumping over and punching down of the cap. Aging took place for 14 months in fine grained French oak barrels (40% new). Production is approximately 35,000 annually.

Food Pairings

Prime Rib Roast, Rack of Lamb, Rare Ahi Tuna, Mushroom or Truffle Sauced Pastas, Aged Mimolette Cheese

Third Party Reviews

“Silky yet crunchy and chewy, this is smooth and supple with a lovely immediate brightness to the fruits, a crystalline aspect and almost sharp/sour tang to the mid-palate. The acidity is clearly present while the ripe fruit flavours settle around the edges of the mouth before a saltiness and salivation comes in towards the end. A super refined Pomerol in a year where you could have gone too far. This has a lovely tannic structure, grippy and expanding vertically on the mid-palate. I love the immediate appeal, the bright red fruits, cherry and strawberry tang, a hint of slate, and the overall freshness. It’s elegant with a sense of sleekness and precision. Excellent work happening at this estate.”
– 94 pts. Georgina Hindle (Decanter January 2023)

‘This over-achieving estate is one of the most consistent performers in Pomerol. Always a well-made, fleshy, succulent, hedonistic wine” – Robert Parker