Wine Advisor
Quinault l'Enclos 2020
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2020 Quinault l'Enclos offers up aromas of cherries, plums and crushed mint, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and lively palate built around powdery tannins that somewhat temper this site's proclivity for an overt, even obvious, expression of fruit.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Quinault L'Enclos is a gorgeous, deeply pitched Saint-Émilion. Rose petal, mint, dried herbs and sweet red berry fruit all grace this wonderfully layered, nuanced Saint-Émilion. Pure and nuanced, with terrific energy, Quinault has a ton to offer. In 2020, the Cabernets (15% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc) are super-expressive. There is just a bit of youthful austerity that needs time to soften.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Quinault L'Enclos, which was cropped at 20hL/ha, has a slightly muted bouquet with blackberry, bilberry and a light saline influence. The palate is medium-bodied with a little rigidity on the entry, compact with sharp acidity. For me, it is missing some charm and flesh on the finish. So-so.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Quinault L’Enclos contains no Cabernet Sauvignon this year due to mildew. It has an intense bouquet of black cherries, blueberry and crushed iris flower. The oak is neatly enmeshed and feels delineated and tensile. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannins, and lightly spiced, with white pepper and sage seasoning the black fruit. Quite structured and powerful on the finish, this is a long-term Saint-Émilion that will benefit from several years in the cellar.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Quinault L'Enclos feels a bit overripe on the nose with fig- and date-infused black fruit. It's rather glossy and missing some complexity. The palate is medium-bodied and quite oaky with ripe tannins. It's a powerful and burly Right Bank that leans more toward a hedonistic style but doesn't quite have the finesse to pull it off. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This is hyper fine and polished with currants, light chocolate and hazelnut aromas and flavors. Medium body. Fresh and very long. Extremely pretty and fine. Drinkable, but better in 2026.
About the Producer
Chateau Quinault l'Enclos is located in the Saint-Emilion appellation of Bordeaux, France, and dates back to the 17th century. The winery takes its name from a writer named Philipe Quinault. In 1930, the estate of the Château de Montréal was only 8 hectares. Until the 1990s, when Chateau Quinault l'Enclos came under the wing of the famous winemaking family - Raynaud Family, Dr. Alain Raynaud invested heavily in Chateau Quinault, eventually making it one of the most famous châteaux in Saint-Emilion. In 2008, Quinault l'Enclos was taken over by Bernard Arnault and Albert Frere, owners of the LVMH group. Then the winery became part of the LVMH group, along with the famous Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau La Tour Figeac, and the estate's vineyard area was expanded. The winemaking team became the Pierre Lurton team of Château Cheval Blanc. Michel Rolland, the famous "flying winemaker", was also hired as a consultant. Now, the vineyard is approximately 20 hectares, planted with 83% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The oldest vines were planted in 1930, and the average age is 45 years. The vineyard was taken over by LVMH in 2008 and was converted to organic farming, and in 2012 it was successfully certified as such. When Dr. Alain Raynaud was at the helm of Château Grand Cru, the wines produced were straightforward, sweet and ripe, round and soft, in the typical style of Saint-Emilion wines, suitable for drinking in their youth, with an optimum age of 10 to 12 years. Today's winemaking team, Pierre Lurton's team, produces wines that are clearer and fresher on the palate, with pleasantly soft tannins and well-integrated oak flavours.
