Chateau Moulin du Cadet 2020

Château Moulin du Cadet is ideally situated on the Cadet hill at the entrance to Saint-Emilion. This 2.85-hectare (7.04-acre) Cru Classé exploits clayey limestone soils on the Saint-Emilion plateau with Merlot uniquely. Moulin du Cadet wines have always been historically sought after, first winning a gold medal at the Paris universal exhibition in 1867. The wines produced display no heaviness and are elegant with tannins that are always very silky.

Flowers, cherries, plums, and espresso beans make up the perfume. The wine is deep, dark, and lushly textured, with a rich, deep, concentrated, polished finish ending with chalky tannins, and layers of sweet, chocolate-enriched plums, with toasty oak. Drink from 2024-2042.

Decanter: 91
Punchy and upfront, with intense redcurrants, raspberries and ripe, almost jammy strawberries and red cherries. Extremely taninic at present, they fill the mouth, although are fleshy and gently chewy, and do well to give bounce to the palate. Just feels well made without overt oak or spice dominating the fruit. Balanced and harmonious. Lovely hint of sweetness matched by the acidity that gives this a sharp and thrilling sensation that's missing from many. It's not the most complex but really delivers a glass of easy, approachable wine with markers of the intense vintage.

Decanter: 91

Punchy and upfront, with intense redcurrants, raspberries and ripe, almost jammy strawberries and red cherries. Extremely taninic at present, they fill the mouth, although are fleshy and gently chewy, and do well to give bounce to the palate. Just feels well made without overt oak or spice dominating the fruit. Balanced and harmonious. Lovely hint of sweetness matched by the acidity that gives this a sharp and thrilling sensation that's missing from many. It's not the most complex but really delivers a glass of easy, approachable wine with markers of the intense vintage.

Vinous: 94
The 2020 Moulin du Cadet marries intensity with energy, a combination that works so well. Bright red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and blood orange are all finely delineated. Vibrant acids and clean mineral notes give the 2020 its vibrant, saline personality. This is very nicely done. In a word: terrific.

James Suckling: 94
Notes of cassis and plum skins with licorice, cocoa and mocha. Hints of walnut, too. Medium- to full-bodied with tight yet polished tannins that last for minutes. Delicious and juicy velvet-coated dark fruit with tension and length. Toned and lingering finish with lots of energy to it. Try after 2026.

Jeb Dunnuck: 94
All Merlot from a tiny parcel on the upper plateau, the 2020 Château Moulin Du Cadet has a fresher, elegant, yet nicely concentrated and medium-bodied profile as well as a gorgeous perfume of red and black raspberries, tobacco, peppery herbs, and truffle. Perfectly balanced, with fine yet building tannins and terrific purity, it needs just 2-4 years of bottle age and will evolve for 15+.