Ch. Aguilhe Querre 2020 75cl

The Right Bank Modern Titan – Concentrated Black Fruit, Chalky Precision, and Long-Haul Architecture

Situated on the high limestone plateau extension of Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux—just east of Saint-Émilion—the Querre family’s estate produces Merlot-dominant wines with the structural tension and mineral drive typically associated with Saint-Émilion Grand Crus.

The 2020 growing season completed the legendary trilogy of great Bordeaux vintages (2018, 2019, 2020). Marked by a warm, dry summer and concentrated berries, 2020 yielded fruit with deep phenolic extract, ripe structural tannins, and a remarkably fresh acidity preserved by the high-elevation clay-limestone soils.

🍷 Tasting Notes (2026 Perspective)

The 2020 is a muscular, deeply concentrated, and aristocratic vintage that is just beginning to open up, offering intense dark fruit framed by a solid limestone architecture.

• The Nose: Deep, Brooding, and Floral. Opens with a dark, concentrated bouquet of black cassis, crushed black cherries, and ripe damson plum, enveloped by high-toned aromas of violet petals, dark cocoa, licorice, and a distinct mineral whiff of crushed graphite and wet chalk.

• The Palate: Broad, Concentrated, and Structural. The entry is impactful and velvety, quickly unfolding layers of dense Merlot fruit extract. It is supported by a robust, fine-grained wall of ripe tannins and a vibrating, linear streak of limestone acidity that keeps the massive mid-palate balanced, focused, and upright.

• The Finish: Long, Savory, and Mineral. Concludes with exceptional length and verticality, leaving a lingering trail of dark chocolate nibs, subtle cigar box cedar, bitter citrus peel, and a persistent saline mineral dryness.

📋 Technical Snapshot

Pro Tip

The 2020's concentrated dark fruit core and robust tannic backbone make it an outstanding companion for rich, savory proteins and earthy reductions.

• The Bistro Match: Outstanding alongside roasted rack of lamb with rosemary, braised beef short ribs, or duck breast with a dark cherry sauce.

• The Umami Match: Pairs brilliantly with wild mushroom tarts, roasted sweetbreads, or hard aged cheeses like Comté or Pecorino.

• The "Nordic" Match: Serve cellar-cooled at 16–18°C after decanting for 60 minutes alongside Roast Venison Loin (Peuranselkä) or Slow-cooked Elk Ragù (Hirvikäristys) served with dark gravy, wild chanterelles, and lingonberries. The wine's intense black cherry fruit and chalky acidity slice straight through the lean game fats while mirroring the wild, forest-floor flavors.