2021 Domaine des Closiers Bay Rouge 750ml

The 2020 Bay Rouge is an atypical Saumur Champigny. This is a Cabernet Franc for Rioja lovers. Aromatically, it's all sweet vanilla and coconut spice derived from three years' maturation in new barrels. Hailing from a west-facing single plot of 65-year-old vines, the tiny yields of just 20 hl/ha provide concentration so that the fruit supports the oak on the palate. This is rich and bold yet finely polished with a silken texture. It's intriguing that in such a warm year there is still so much welcome freshness on the finish. Despite spending a year in bottle before release, this is still very young and has not evolved at all. The 2020 is one for the long haul, impressive albeit far from classic.
94pts. - Rebecca Gibb, Vinous