Chateau Magnol house spotlight
Official Barton & Guestier film of Chateau Magnol in Blanquefort, the Cru Bourgeois Haut-Medoc estate behind this 2020.
2020 Barton & Guestier Chateau Magnol Haut-Medoc, France (97D)
Barton & Guestier's Cru Bourgeois, Decanter 97, blackcurrant and sage from Blanquefort gravel, a 2020 you can open at twenty-three dollars.
The 2020 Chateau Magnol is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot from sand and gravel in Blanquefort: blackcurrant, black cherry, wild sage, mint, and fine tannin after 12 months in French oak, now $23.
A Cru Bourgeois next to Bordeaux city, not a faceless Medoc blend
Chateau Magnol is Barton & Guestier's Haut-Medoc estate in Blanquefort, 31 hectares of sand and gravel, Cru Bourgeois since 1979. The 2020 ages 12 months in French oak, about 30 percent new. Decanter World Wine Awards gave it 97 and Platinum. James Suckling found black olives, bay, blackcurrant, and blackberry, fleshy, rounded, straightforward and balanced. This is the bottle that puts a house Haut-Medoc on a steak table at twenty-three dollars.
The house
Barton & Guestier has been a Bordeaux merchant since 1725. Magnol, bought in 1969, is the company's Haut-Medoc heart in Blanquefort.
The wine
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Long maceration, 12 months French oak, 30% new. 13.5% ABV.
The scores
Decanter World Wine Awards 97, Platinum. James Suckling found black fruit, bay, and rounded tannin.
The drinker
Cassis and sage first. Decant 20 to 30 minutes. Serve 60 to 64 F. Steak or duck.
Blackcurrant and sage, then mint, olive, and a clean close
The house 2020 is deep cherry red. The nose is blackcurrant, black cherry, spices, wild sage, and menthol. Suckling found black olives, bay, blackcurrant, and blackberry, fleshy ripe fruit, rounded tannin, a clean finish. Falstaff found ripe plum, dark forest berries, orange zest, and tobacco on a silky, mineral close.
A Left Bank year of ripe black fruit and rounded tannin. Drink now through about 2030. Twenty to thirty minutes of air is enough.
Blackcurrant, black cherry, blackberry, sage, mint, bay, black olive.
Medium, 13.5% ABV, 12 months French oak, rounded tannin.
Vanilla, tobacco, mineral. Decant 20 to 30 minutes. Serve 60 to 64 F.
Sand and gravel, a long maceration, then 12 months of French oak
Barton & Guestier destems, ferments warm with rack-and-return, and macerates about three weeks. Malolactic follows. The 2020 then spends 12 months in barrel, about 30 percent new. Blanquefort sand and gravel keep the wine a table Haut-Medoc instead of a heavy oak speech.
Cru Bourgeois. Hand work in the rows, oceanic climate, low yields on 31 hectares.
Decant 20 to 30 minutes. Serve 60 to 64 F. Steak or duck breast.
A 1725 merchant house, then a Cru Bourgeois in Blanquefort
Barton & Guestier is among the oldest Bordeaux houses. Magnol is the chateau they kept as headquarters, school, and vineyard.
Thomas Barton arrived in Bordeaux in 1725. Guestier joined later. The house still bottles Magnol as its Haut-Medoc.
The estate became Cru Bourgeois in 1979 after B&G rebuilt vineyard and cellar.
The 2020 is that house claret in a ripe year: cassis, sage, and a 97-point Decanter medal at twenty-three dollars.
A hard sear, or a duck breast
Left Bank tannin wants browned beef. Duck keeps black cherry and sage in the same key. The house films a Magnol duck plate for a reason.
Two plates. One butter-basted steak. One duck breast. Both can take Magnol's cassis and fine tannin.
Decant 20 to 30 minutes. Serve 60 to 64 F. Bordeaux stems.
Butter-Basted Ribeye
A hard crust, butter, and thyme. Haut-Medoc's weeknight steakhouse landing.
Why it works: Fat and char cushion Cabernet tannin while browned beef pulls cassis, sage, and mint through the glass.
View Recipe for butter-basted ribeye (opens in a new tab)
Duck Breast with Fresh Cherry Sauce
Duck gives the wine enough richness, while cherry keeps the pairing in its black-fruit lane.
Why it works: Blackcurrant and sage cut duck fat. Fine tannin meets the savory skin.
View Recipe for duck breasts with cherry sauce (opens in a new tab)Put this Chateau Magnol 2020 in the cart
Barton & Guestier, Cru Bourgeois, Decanter 97. Twenty-three dollars.
Put it in the cart. This is the Magnol bottle for a steak night that wants Haut-Medoc, not a generic Bordeaux slogan.
