Gevrey Chambertin Lavaux Saint Jacques, Louis Jadot 2020

Aromas of cassis, plums, vanilla pod and orange rind preface the 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques (Domaine Louis Jadot), a medium to full-bodied, lively and concentrated wine that combines admirable depth of fruit with vibrant acidity and powdery tannin. This will be long-lived.

A fresh but quite somber nose reluctantly offers up its aromas of forest floor, game and dark berry fruit liqueur. There is markedly better volume, power and minerality to the well-muscled and bigger-bodied flavors that culminate in a compact, mineral-driven and austere finish that is borderline old school in style. While this very firm effort won't win any awards for elegance, I like the frank and direct character plus it should age effortlessly.

The 2020 Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques 1er Cru has a well-defined bouquet with red cherries, blackcurrant, crushed violet and light stony aromas. This is nicely focused with good vigour. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, touches of orange rind and marmalade enlivening the peppery finish. Not the most precise Lavaux Saint-Jacques, but good substance here.