2020 Bordeaux is going to be seen as one of the great vintages of all time. After tasting over 900 wines in barrel and in bottle, there is no doubt about that. But honestly, this is for the red wines. While there are some very good, delicious, 2020 White Bordeaux wines, it was not an easy vintage. Many of the wines I tasted felt more advanced than when tasted in barrel, and a lot of the wines are clearly on a fast, evolutionary track. So, most of these wines are fully ready to go as they will be best on the young side.
The fruits were not overripe, and I quite enjoyed the aromatic complexities, but several wines lacked the racy acidity I adore when tasting white Bordeaux wines. That does not mean you cannot find successful wines, you can. You just need to know where to look.
It is interesting to note that for 2020 Bordeaux, the vintage is one of the earliest for white wine grapes that vignerons have seen in quite a while. For those of you keeping track, this was over one week earlier than in 2019. Harvesting for dry White Bordeaux wine grapes began about August 20, with a few growers starting even earlier with Sauvignon Blanc.
The 2020 Bordeaux white wine harvest took place in good conditions, with pleasant temperatures, sunny days, and those much-desired cool nights. Semillon picking continued until early September, which was perfect, as this part of the harvest was completed just before rains began to fall.
For further details on the 2020 white Bordeaux wine-growing season and harvest, as well as producer quotes about the 2020 vintage 2020 Bordeaux Growing Season and Harvest Report
The trend for more producers using composite corks for white wine continues, and this is a good thing. Another growing trend is that today, you find more estates planting small parcels of white wine grapes in the Medoc, as well as in the Right Bank, utilizing both, traditional, white wine grapes planted in the region as well as other non-Bordeaux grapes. Growers of sweet white Bordeaux continue focusing on producing not only more dry white wines, but better dry white Bordeaux. You will find several of the best examples in this report.
We will publish a separate article featuring 2020 sweet Bordeaux wine from Sauternes and Barsac.
All of the following 2020 Bordeaux Blancs were tasted in my office in non-blind tasting conditions. The wines were all flighted and tasted in peer groups.
2020 dAiguilhe Blanc – Bordeaux – Green apples, white peach, honeysuckle, and tangerine come to the surface of the nose. The wine is sweet, round, lush, and fresh, with creamy textures and yellow citrus with a background note of honey that comes in at the end of the finish. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2023-2030. 92 Pts
2020 Alba Mauvinon – Bordeaux – Produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the wine shows off its yellow and orange citrus easily. The wine is creamy in the mouth with sweet, yellow citrus in the finish. Drink this on the young side. Drink from 2023-2026. 87 Pts
2020 Bastor-Lamontagne Confidence – Bordeaux – White flowers, white peaches, and grapefruit peel with a dab of honey to add some sweetness. Forward and early drinking, you can enjoy this at its peak in its vibrant youth. Drink from 2023-2028. 90 Pts
2020 Birazel Romane – Bordeaux – Bright yellow citrus with mango, tangerine, and creamy, mildly honeyed, pineapple accents for early-drinking pleasure. Drink from 2023-2027. 87 Pts
2020 Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemons, flowers and green apples with honeysuckle show on the nose and creamy, sweet, citrus-filled, mildly, spiced palate. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2023-2030. 90 Pts
2020 Bouscaut Les Chenes Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pears, green apples, and grapefruit pith form the nose here. On the palate, the wine is forward, fresh and fruity with a touch of lemon and lime in the finish. Drink from 2023-2026. 87 Pts
2020 Brane Cantenac Blanc – Bordeaux – The debut vintage for this new white wine from Brane Cantenac is loaded with spicy, orange and yellow citrus, pears, green apples, and white flowers. Juicy, creamy, and with loads of chalky yellow, orange and green citrus, Granny Smith apple with chalky tannins, this is already delicious in your glass. Drink from 2023-2028. 92 Pts
2020 Brondelle Blanc – Graves – Zesty citrus and creamy lemons, flowers, and mango combine to form the core of this wine. Creamy, fresh and forward, this is fully ready-to-go for easy, white wine imbibing. Dring from 2023-2029. 88 Pts
2020 Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Orange rind, mint leaf, green tea, honeysuckle, spice, and lemon peels are found in the nose and on the fresh, creamy, sweet, lush, palate. This is simply delicious. Drink from 2023-2034. 92 Pts
2020 Chantegrive Blanc – Graves – Vibrant, fresh, yellow-citrus oriented, forward wine with a nice pop of green apples in the juicy finish. This is a solid white Bordeaux wine value. Drink from 2023-2029. 90 Pts
2020 Chantegrive Caroline Blanc – Graves – Creamy, fresh peaches and citrus rind with a floral edge create the core of this wine. On the palate, the wine is creamy, lively and sweet, with a sweet, yellow citrus finish. Drink from 2023-2029. 91 Pts
2020 Charreau Wilson Silla Blanc Sec – Bordeaux – Flowers and orange rind with a touch of yellow citrus with herbal notes on the back end are what you will find here in the near-term drinker. Drink from 2023-2024. 83 Pts
2020 ChateauOlivier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, lemon rind, mango, and pineapple find their way into the perfume. On the palate, the wine is loaded with Meyer lemon, green apples, pears, and white peach, leaving you with a creamy, citrus endnote. Drink from 2023-2032. 91 Pts
2020 Cheval Blanc Le Petit Cheval Bordeaux Blanc – Bordeaux – Bright, yellow, and orange citrus with touches of pears and green apples along with a tint of honey that comes through on the nose and palate. This is already delicious and it should continue offering pleasure for up to a decade. Drink from 2023-2032. 93 Pts
2020 Clos Floridene Blanc – Graves – White peach, lemon rind, and flowers on the front in the nose, and creamy, sweet, yellow citrus with a touch of orange peel in the finish is what you are going to discover here. Drink from 2023-2027. 90 Pts
2020 Clos Marsalette Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, vanilla, orange rind, white peach, and pineapple create the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, creamy, and fruity with a lush, sweet, yellow citrus finish. Drink from 2023- 2033. 92 Pts
2020 Clos des Lunes Lune d’Argent – Bordeaux – With just a swirl you find waxy lemons, white peaches, and aromas of flowers. Sweet, vibrant, juicy and fresh with a blend of Meyer lemons and tangerine sweetened with a dab of honey and a sprig on mint on the backend. Drink from 2023-2030. 91 Pts
2020 Clos des Lunes Lune d’Or – Bordeaux – Orange blossoms, white peach, vanilla, white flowers, and green apple notes are all over the bouquet here. On the palate, the wine is fresh, lush and creamy, with a nice sweetness and purity to all the yellow citrus and mango in the finish. Drink from 2023-2033. 92 Pts
2020 Cos d’Estournel Pagodes de Cos Blanc – Bordeaux – White peach, orange rind, honeysuckle, and green apples show in the nose and on the creamy, pear, lemon rind, and white peach filled palate. Drink from 2023-2029. 91 Pts
2020 Cos dEstournel Blanc – Bordeaux – White peach, honeysuckle, green melon, lemon peel, flowers, and pineapple show up with little effort in the nose. On the palate, the wine is sweet, creamy, vibrant, and complex, leaving you with its tea-like, infusion of white peaches, orange blossom and lemon chiffon. Drink from 2023-2032. 94 Pts
2020 Cote Montpezat Cuvée Compostelle Blanc – Bordeaux – White flowers, a drizzle of honey, lemon, green apples, and spice form the center of this fresh, refreshing, yellow citrus filled wine. Drink from 2023-2028. 90 Pts
2020 Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Because the wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, you find a lot of bright acidity that adds to the blast of green apples, lemons, oranges, grapefruits, and yellow plums. Juicy, creamy, fresh, and lifted at the end, this is a fabulous, white Bordeaux. Drink from 2023-2035. 94 Pts
2020 Couhins La Dame de Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Crispy, fresh lemons, and green apples are at the core of the perfume and on the fresh, fruity palate. Drink from 2023-2026. 89 Pts
2020 Couhins-Lurton Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Zesty yellow citrus, white peach, pineapple, and green apples are found from start to finish in this forward, spicy, already-delicious Bordeaux Blanc. Drink from 2023-2032. 91 Pts
2020 Crabitey Blanc – Graves – Flowers, white peaches, lemons, and freshness with a creamy, vibrant, yellow citrus and green apple packed finish. Drink from 2023-2027. 89 Pts
2020 Croix de Labrie Stella Solare – Bordeaux – Lush, rich, and loaded with flowers, white peach, orange and yellow citrus and almonds on the nose, as well as on the oily, creamy palate. The wine finishes with sweet, juicy, yellow citrus along with a hint of mango. Drink from 2023-2028. 91 Pts
2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Ripe, lush, and opulent, the wine opens to a wealth of fragrances, flowers, spice, honey, vanilla, green apples, lemon rind, mango, and pink grapefruit aromatics are easy to find. On the palate the wine is silky, lush, and fresh, finishing with yellow citrus and creamy green apples. You can enjoy this beauty on release, but it has the ability to age as well. Drink from 2023-2038. 96 Pts
2020 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Salty lemon peels, green apples, white flowers and pomelo open the nose. On the palate, the wine is round, forward, lush and fruity, leaving you with a sweet, creamy, lemon finish with just a drop of honey in the endnote. Drink from 2023-2031. 92 Pts
2020 Domaine de la Solitude Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Scents of white peaches, flowers, green apples, and honeysuckle show with ease on the nose. Fresh, creamy, and fruity, with a core of sweet, ripe, yellow citrus and spicy pineapple in the finish. 92 Pts
2020 Famille Bouey Cuvee 23 – Bordeaux – Honeysuckle, orange and yellow citrus in a creamy package for uncomplicated, early drinking pleasure with a sweet, citrus finish. Drink from 2023-2025. 85 Pts
2020 Famille Bouey Les Parcelles N 9 – Bordeaux – Produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the wine is loaded with honeysuckle and fresh, lemon rind. It will be best enjoyed in its youth. Drink from 2023-2024. 84 Pts
2020 Ferrande Blanc – Graves – Flowers, green apples, and waxy lemons come through on the nose and on the creamy, lemon-edged, spicy, vivacious palate. This is a superb value-priced white Bordeaux wine. Drink from 2023-2027. 90 Pts
2020 Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Waxy lemons, limes, green apples, flowers, spice, and orange rind create a fabulous perfume. Fresh, creamy, bright, and fruity, with layers of sweet yellow citrus in the creamy textured, finish, with a gentle hint of honeyed lemon and white peaches that come through in the endnote. Drink from 2023-2034. 92 Pts
2020 Fieuzal L’Abeille de Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lightly colored, here you find mango, orange rind, and a light, core of yellow citrus that will be best in its youth. Drink from 2023-2026. 87 Pts
2020 Fleur Haut Gaussens Sauvignon Blanc – Bordeaux – Light, fresh, lemon-centric, early drinking 100% Sauvignon Blanc that needs to be consumed in its youth. Drink from 2023-2025. 84 Pts
2020 de-France Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Grapefruit, orange, honeysuckle, white peach, and spice create the nose. From there, you find polished, fresh, creamy, green apples and citrus on the mid-palate and in the finish. This is definitely good to go on release. Drink from 2023-2032. 91 Pts
2020 Goudichaud Blanc – Graves de Vayres – Cantaloup, orange rind, and honey with yellow peaches show up in this forward, easy-drinking, simple white wine. Drink from 2023-2025. 85 Pts
2020 Grace Fonrazade Blanc – Bordeaux – White peach, orange rind, and honeysuckle show up easily in the nose. On the palate, the wine is fruity, creamy, and ready to go, as well as needing to be drunk in its youth. Drink from 2023-2025. 85 Pts
2020 Guiraud Blanc Sec – Bordeaux – Apricots, almonds, flowers, and a dab of honey create the perfume. The palate is even better with its layers of lusciously-textured, oranges, candied lemon, and notes of white peach that show up in the vibrant, creamy finish. This is the debut of this new wine from Guiraud which is the brainchild of Sandrine Garbay. The wine truly tastes exactly like what you want from a dry Sauternes. Drink from 2023-2035. 92 Pts
2020 Haut L’Abeille Les Robins – Bordeaux – White peach, apricot, and apples are all over the place in this creamy blend of Chardonnay and Semillon. Drink from 2023-2026. 87 Pts
2020 Haut Nouchet Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Almonds, grapefruit, and lemon zest fill the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, round and creamy, with a lemon rind edge to the finish. Drink from 2023-2028. 90 Pts
2020 Hubert de Boüard Sauvignon Blanc – Bordeaux – Fresh lemons, grapefruit, and green apple notes are all over the place here on the nose and palate. I like the dab of honey and the crispness in the yellow fruit that show up as well. Drink from 2023-2027. 90 Pts
2020 Hubert de Boüard Sémillon – Bordeaux – White peach, honeyed yellow citrus, mango, and spicy accents shine in this ready-to-go, fresh, creamy white wine. Drink from 2023-2026. 89 Pts
2020 La Dauphine Blanc – Bordeaux – White peach, flowers, spice, green apples, and pears create the nose. Sweet, creamy, and fresh, with a core of white peaches on the palate and in the finish. This will be best on the young side, over the next yew years. 88 Pts
2020 La Fleur Morange Blanc – Bordeaux – Yellow and green apples with a floral edge are created by blending of 50% Sauvignon Blanc with 50% Sauvignon Gris. The wine is rich, ripe, and creamy, and will be best in its youth. Drink from 2023-2027. 89 Pts
2020 La Louviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Crushed rocks, lemons, grapefruit, green apples, spice, and white flowers create an intense perfume. Rich, fresh, fruit-filled, and juicy with yellow and orange citrus, white peach, and green pear, packed finish, with a touch of ginger in the endnote, this is already fabulous in your glass. Drink from 2023-2034. 92 Pts
2020 La Rose Perriere Blanc – Bordeaux – White peach, roasted almonds, and guava come through on the nose. Fruity, creamy, forward, and loaded with more sweet citrus and white peach in the mouth, this is ready to go for the next few years. Drink from 2023-2027. 88 Pts
2020 La-Tour-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – The layers of sweet, lemons, grapefruit, pineapple, and oranges on the palate balance their proclivity to creaminess with freshness, leaving you with waves of luscious, yellow citrus, green apples, pears, and white peaches with a touch of chalk on the backend of the endnote. Drink from 2023-2035. 93 Pts
2020 Lafaurie-Peyraguey Blanc Sec – Bordeaux – Grapefruit, ginger, white peach, pineapple, and lemon chiffon with a touch of flowers create the beautiful perfume. On the palate, the wine is creamy, fresh, and focused on its blend of white peach and yellow citrus with just a touch of honey, pineapple, and chalk on the backend. Drink from 2023-2029. 92 Pts
2020 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Waxy lemons, honeysuckle, white peach, and lemon grass notes stand out here in the perfume and on the soft, creamy, yellow and orange citrus palate, with its sweet, white peach accents. Drink from 2023-2032. 91 Pts
2020 Latour Martillac Lagrave Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh lemons, flowers, and tea notes open the nose and the palate of this ready-to-go, easy-drinking, charmer. The finish is all about its sweet, ripe, lemon-zest character. Drink from 2023-2026. 87 Pts
2020 Laurence Blanc Sec – Bordeaux – Flowers, Anjou pears, green apples, and spice are all over the place in the perfume and on the fresh, zesty, yellow citrus and spice-filled palate. Refreshing and crisp, this is ready for dinner tonight! Drink from 2023-2028. 91 Pts
2020 Leroy-Beauval Blanc – Bordeaux – Mango, lemon rind, honeysuckle, flowers, and green apples for the core of the wine, finishing with fresh, sweet and round, green apples with Meyer lemons and spice, in the creamy finish. Drink from 2023-2029. 90 Pts
2020 Les Charmes-Godard Blanc – Côtes de Francs – Green apples, pears, dried white flowers, and tangerine skin show in the nose, while the palate is all about the vibrant, salty essence of fresh, juicy, grapefruits, lemon, and luscious white peaches. Drink from 2023-2030. 91 Pts
2020 Lespault-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Mildly, honeyed lemons, lime, mango, spice and flowers create the character here. On the palate, the wine is creamy, fresh and fruity with a juicy, finish that shows of its green apples, yellow citrus, and oily-textured pears easily. Drink from 2023-2031. 92 Pts
2020 Luchey-Halde Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Forward, soft and fruity, with a light core of lemons are found in this easy-going, light, summer quaffer. Drink from 2023-2025. 85 Pts
2020 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, honeysuckle, spice box, orange rind, white peach, and vanilla emerge from the perfume. On the palate the wine is fruity, lush, creamy, and rich, with finishing touches of white peach, waxy lemons, mangos, Granny Smith apples, and an array of spices on the backend. Drink from 2023-2035. 94 Pts
2020 Malartic Lagraviere Le Comte de Malartic Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Spicy green apples, flowers, lime and lemons create the perfume. Fresh, forward, juicy, and fruity, this will be perfect to enjoy on release and over the next few years. Le Comte de Malartic Blanc is the new name for the second wine of Malartic Lagraviere. Drink from 2023-2030. 90 Pts
2020 Malleret Blanc – Bordeaux – White flowers and lemon zest, with a touch of pear, come through on the nose, and palate of this ready-to-drink, white Bordeaux. Though, this requires drinking over the new few years. Drink from 2023-2026. 87 Pts
2020 du Mouret – Graves – Bright, orange, and yellow citrus-oriented wine with a touch of leafy herbs in the finish that will be at its best over the next year or two. Drink from 2023-2025. 84 Pts
2020 Nardian Blanc – Bordeaux – Honeyed orange rind, flowers, vanilla, pineapple, green apples, and spice open the perfume. The creamy palate delivers zesty lemons and almonds with a creamy edge. This is already good to go. Drink from 2023-2028. 91 Pts
2020 Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Rich, lush, ripe, concentrated, and fresh, here, you find a plethora of yellow and orange citrus fruits with nuances of honeysuckle, green apple, mango, and a smidgeon of vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full, rich, creamy, oily, lively, and ready to go. Drink from 2023-2035. 95 Pts
2020 Paveil de Luze Blanc – Bordeaux – Grapefruit, orange rind and flowers form the core of this forward, creamy wine. The finish is all about its blend of yellow, and green apples with pears and lemon rind. You can enjoy this over the next few years. Drink from 2023-2027. 89 Pts
2020 Picque Caillou Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Yellow tropical fruit, and citrus blend to create this forward, sweet, juicy, and creamy wine, finishing with notes of lemon curd and crunchy green apples on the backend. Drink from 2023-2029. 88 Pts
2020 Plain-Point Blanc – Bordeaux – Grapefruit, lemon peel, orange rind and flower stems for the perfume here. Sweet, fresh, and creamy with a nice layer of lemon chiffon with green apples on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2023-2029. 90 Pts
2020 Portets Blanc – Graves – Fresh, bright, crisp blend of vibrant yellow citrus with a dash of lime create a refreshing, east to drink wine that will be ready-to-go on release. Drink from 2023-2027. 87 Pts
2020 Puygueraud Blanc – Bordeaux – White flowers, lemons, and green apples create the nose. On the palate, the wine offers sweet, juicy lemons with a solid touch of sea salt and mint, that carries from the mid-palate all the way through to the finish. Drink from 2023-2028. 90 Pts
2020 Rahoul Blanc – Graves – Spicy lemons, white flowers, white peaches, and citrus rind form the complex aromatic profile. Fresh and lifted on the palate, the wine pops with sweet Meyer lemons in the creamy finish. Drink from 2023-2029. 91 Pts
2020 Reignac Blanc – Bordeaux – Smoky, yellow and orange fruits with freshness and a creamy, fruity finish are what you will find here. Drink from 2023-2028. 88 Pts
2020 Sainte Marie Madlys – Entre-Deux-Mers – Flowers, grapefruit, and crisp, green apples come together, ending in a light, sweet, mild yellow citrus finish. Drink from 2023-2026. 87 Pts
2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Rich, lush, and creamy, with an alluring bouquet of honeysuckle, lemon rind, white peach, vanilla, and honeyed lemon peel, this is going to be simply fabulous on release, providing pleasure for over a decade. Drink from 2023-2035. 96 Pts
2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Blending about 80% Sauvignon Blanc, with 20% Semillon, you find a nose of flowers, vanilla, spice, almonds, grapefruit, orange rind, and honeysuckle. Rich and creamy, this is already a treat in your glass. Drink from 2023-2028. 93 Pts
2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, grapefruit, Meyer lemon, orange rind, and flowers with white peaches create the perfume. Right in the middle between the corner of fresh and creamy, the finish has accents of spice and almonds to compliment the yellow citrus and pineapple in the finish. The wine is produced with 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2023-2028. 93 Pts
2020 Talbot Caillou Blanc – Bordeaux – Yellow citrus, orange rind, almonds, and honeysuckle show up in the nose and on the creamy, round, lush, palate. The color seemed quite dark, so while I liked the wine, I would opt for drinking it over the next few years. Drink from 2023-2026. 91 Pts
2020 Tourteau Chollet Blanc – Graves – Easy-drinking, simple, lemon and green apple-filled wine with a light, citrus character in the finish for early drinking. Drink from 2023-2025. 84 Pts
2020 Tronquoy-Lalande Blanc – Bordeaux – Flowers, spice, orange rind, almonds and lemon zest show easily on the nose. The wine is forward, lush, fruity and oily, with a spicy, creamy, lemon finish. Drink from 2023-2029. 90 Pts
Up next, we will take a look at all the best generic AOC 2020 Bordeaux red and white Bordeaux wines.
If you didn’t read it yet, and you are seeking some of the best values in 2020 Bordeaux Bordeuax, make sure you read our previous article on the best St. Emilion Satellite Appellation wines… 2020 Saint Emilion Satellite Appellation Wine Guide