
Is 2020 a good year in Bordeaux, Burgundy and elsewhere? Well, here is our complete, honest review of the 2020 vintage for all French wine regions. Once you’ve read it, 2020 will no longer be withholding any secrets from you.
So that you can more easily find the regions that interest you the most, here is a table of contents:
The 2020 vintage in Alsace
The 2020 vintage in Beaujolais
The 2020 vintage in Bordeaux
The 2020 vintage in Burgundy
The 2020 vintage in Champagne
The 2020 vintage in Languedoc
The 2020 vintage in Roussillon
The 2020 vintage in Jura and Savoie
The 2020 vintage in Provence and Corsica
The 2020 vintage in the Loire Valley
The 2020 vintage in the Rhône Valley (north and south)
The 2020 vintage in the South West
The 2020 vintage in Alsace
Vintage ratings
Dry white wines: 17/20
Sweet white wines: 18/20
Red wines: 18/20
First off, 2020 was a brilliant year for Alsace.
The weather conditions were quite particular with a surprisingly mild winter in this region that isn’t used to these temperatures. Spring seemed to have followed suit with warm weather. For several weeks, sunny weather and mild temperatures were accompanied very dry and windy conditions. All these factors evidently contributed to the vine’s development, which was helped by the return of the rain before summer and avoided the risk of drought like that seen in 2003. The vegetative cycle lasted longer than excepted, despite flowering occurring early in some areas from the end of May thanks to some pretty cool nights. This drawn-out cycle led to mixed ripening throughout the region.
During summer, the winemakers faced some extreme weather conditions. Very little rain fell which affected some areas more than others. More generally, the heat and drought were the common themes running throughout this unusual year with July being the hottest ever recorded by weather stations.
Harvests started on 24 August with the grapes destined to become crémants the first to be picked. Those for Alsace and Alsace grand crus came next, starting on 3 September, which were followed by the late harvest and Sélections de Grains Nobles from 18 September onwards. The perfect conditions of sunny days and cool nights allowed the grapes to gain the optimum flavour levels all while retaining a good level of acidity.
The whole of the Alsace production shows signs of having a high level of quality. Except for the Muscats which are rather fruity and light, the Pinots Blanc, Pinots Gris and Gewurztraminer wines are generally ample and opulent. The Gewurztraminers have great characteristics and possess wonderful spiced notes coming from this hot year. The Sylvaners offer very rich profiles, but this variety’s low yields have considerably reduced the volume produced.
When it comes to the sparkling wines, the crémants are wonderfully complex. The same goes for the Pinot Noirs. Those which have gained quality over the years, reached new heights in 2020, being balanced with a delicate texture and fruity flavours. The Rieslings are both deep and taut at the same time, supported by a beautiful acidity.
The 2020 vintage in Beaujolais
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 17/20
The region experienced a very sunny year coupled with a lack of water. These weather conditions settled into place early in the winter, which was mild, as was the beginning of spring. The vines thrived early in April thanks to abundant sunshine throughout the month. Fortunately, the frosts did not cause any damage, and flowering followed unhindered in May.
While the beginning of June seemed to suggest a shift towards cooler and wetter weather, this quickly proved to not be the case. Rainfall patterns varied, benefiting some areas which were able to withstand the very hot and sunny summer with greater ease. The vineyards were put under severe strain by no fewer than three heat waves, especially as the few summer storms rarely provided sufficient water. 2020 saw the harvests begin on 20th August, earlier than the 2019 vintage, which were equally early.
Very different results were observed in the various parcels, although Gamay grapes reached high levels of ripeness everywhere. The high-altitude vineyards (Chiroubles, Côte de Brouilly), as well as the north-facing hillsides, mostly produced crisper, more elegant, and structured wines, generally characterised by notes of red fruit, as in Chénas. Wines from the south and the plains, such as Brouilly, Moulin-à-Vent, the Pierres Dorées, and from the foothills of Morgon, are highly coloured and complex.
The vinification process had a greater impact on the wines than a vintage submitted to more traditional weather patterns. The grapes’ high level of ripeness sometimes resulted in very extensive extractions which produced very concentrated and powerful wines.
As for the white wines, Chardonnays reached great maturity, while preserving a pleasant acidity at times, especially in the higher altitude terroirs. The Pierres Dorées white Beaujolais wines are therefore taut and mineral. Furthermore, the wealth of the vintage prompted some winemakers to adopt a rather unusual, full-bodied, and opulent style.

The 2020 vintage in Bordeaux
Vintage ratings
Left Bank red wines: 16/20
Right Bank red wines: 18/20
Dry white wines: 16/20
Sweet white wines: 15/20
The early winter months, which were characterised by really mild conditions and a significant lack of rain, set the tone for this vintage. Although March was colder, budburst still started two to three weeks early. The weather was surprisingly mild throughout April and May, and this, alongside fairly regular rain, allowed the vines to thrive very quickly. Overall, flowering progressed smoothly, but the month of June soon raised serious concerns. Temperatures dropped significantly and rain persisted, providing ideal conditions for the proliferation of fungal diseases. However, the threat of enduring a repeat of the 2018 vintage receded as an exceptionally hot and dry summer settled into place through to mid-August. Daytime temperatures exceeding 30°C were seen regularly throughout July, but nights remained fairly cool. A new heat wave episode began in August, exacerbating the first signs of water stress. Major storms then broke out and prevented ripening from stalling. The harvest of white grapes started in late August, followed by the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes, which reached perfect ripeness at the beginning of September thanks to dry and sunny conditions. Rain resumed in the second half of September, resulting in the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest. Overall, the health of the grapes was very satisfactory.
The end of the ripening period was relatively complicated as botrytis was slow to develop. As a result, the volumes of sweet wines produced are very limited, yet the quality remains satisfactory given the conditions.
2020 is an excellent year for Bordeaux red wines, although there is a certain heterogeneity amongst the different appellations. The wines have beautiful concentrations, superb mouthfeel, and offer a stunning mentholated freshness. Médoc wines are reminiscent of vintages such as 2010 or 2016, with a genuine freshness on the palate. Saint-Estèphe wines are remarkably dazzling, the clay subsoil having retained a beneficial water reserve during this sunny year. The Pessac-Leognan estates also produced a successful vintage. On the right bank of the Garonne, success is unquestionable, starting with Pomerol, which has produced a historical gem of a vintage. Merlot wines offer a unique level of perfection, delivering racy juices both in depth and delicacy. Saint-Emilion wines are also outstanding. A vintage that brings the magnificent trilogy of 2018, 2019, and 2020 to a close.
The dry white wines lack the pedigree and depth of other years. They do, however, preserve a nice freshness and brightness. Sauvignon grapes were not as aromatic as in 2019, but the Semillon were full of aroma and fully contribute to the blends by bringing extra mellowness to the textures.
The sweet wines prove to be adequate in view of the particularly trying weather conditions faced by the winemakers. These wines tend to be delicate, and less concentrated, but still have a pleasant balance. Nevertheless, the finest Sauternes and Barsac wines provide excellent balance and beautiful aromas, without achieving the depth of the best years.
All Bordeaux wines from the 2020 vintage for sale

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 18/20
White wines: 18/20
The singularity of the 2020 vintage will linger in the memories of Burgundy’s winegrowers for quite some time. Anticyclonic weather conditions settled over the region in the spring and persisted until the harvest. The growth cycle, therefore, started unusually early, amounting to almost three weeks from the time of budburst. In some areas, the combination of sunshine and general lack of rainfall resulted in concentration and, at times, sunburn in the most exposed grapes. The rare showers that fell unevenly over the region once more this year played a vital role in preventing the ripening process from stalling. As a result, while overall very qualitative, the 2020 vintage is nevertheless varied between sub-regions and even within a single appellation.
Harvesting began extremely early on 12th August in the Mâconnais and took place under optimal sanitary conditions. Grapes were superb across all regions and only burnt fruits were removed at the sorting stage. The wines reveal surprisingly well-balanced characteristics despite the sunny vintage.
The red wines are immediately appealing thanks to their deep and intense colour, reflecting their excellent concentration. The grapes, however, retained excellent acidity, bringing a lot of crispness to the wines. Successful cuvées are universal from the north to the south of Burgundy. Irancy wines reveal fine structures and pronounced notes of black fruits and spices. The Côte Chalonnaise is no exception, producing both intense and juicy wines. The results in the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune are outstanding, with dense yet particularly velvety tannin structures, wonderfully fruity concentrations, and superb floral notes. Perfection is close at hand, and the best winemakers have achieved perfectly balanced, stand-out wines combining intensity, silkiness, and freshness. These are definitely wines cut out for long-term ageing.
White wines are also of the highest calibre, sharing great fruit maturity, with often ripe and sometimes exotic fruit flavours. From the Chablis region to the Mâconnais, wines are particularly concentrated and retain great freshness due to acidity levels preserved in spite of the heat. Chablis wines are powerful and mineral, Côte de Beaune wines are exceptionally bright, while Côte Chalonnaise wines are opulent and full of character. These wines have great ageing potential and will leave a long-lasting impression.
All Burgundy wines from the 2020 vintage for sale

The 2020 vintage in Champagne
Vintage ratings
Blancs de Noirs: 16/20
Blancs de Blancs: 17/20
Let’s start with our traditional reminder. It is important to remember the two following things when assessing the most recent vintage of Champagne. The first thing to bear in mind is that the large majority of the Champagne bottles consumed are not vintage wines but are a result of blending wines from many different vintages. These blends, created according to the respective qualities of the varieties used, are supposed to bring an almost constant parity of flavours between the producer’s releases. Therefore, the qualities (or the lack thereof) of a single vintage do not determine how good the end product will be. The second thing is that Champagne is a sparkling wine and there are only two ways to judge the true quality of a vintage. Either the current year’s still wines are tasted a few months after vinification before the wines go through their second vinification process (but this does not give a complete overview of the finished product), or the wine can be tasted at the end of a vintage Champagne’s production cycle which is many years later…
2020 was gruelling for the Champagne winemakers, although it was a little less extreme than 2019. Everything started under a blanket of rain in Champagne with a very wet start to the winter (February was the wettest ever recorded in the region). But spring quickly came, and the nice weather saw early budbreak for all the varieties from the start of April. Some hailstorms at the end of April ravaged nearly 350 hectares in the area around Château Thierry. Flowering occurred in favourable conditions at the end of May. After a dull June, a lengthy period without much rain set in from July until the end of September. The total rainfall for July and August was only 37.9 mm, noticeably less than the previous record for 1964 and 2018. The heat also punished the vines, especially in August, when scalding led to a loss of about 10% of the harvest.
Tasting 2020’s still wines revealed powerful, rich, expressive and fruity nectars which retained a beautiful freshness. The alcohol percentages were raised but were generally not as high as those seen in 2019.
The 2020 vintage in Languedoc
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 16/20
White wines: 16/20
Contrary to other French regions, the winter of 2020 was rather mild but dry in Languedoc before the long-awaited rain came in spring. As a consequence, the water table was able to recover after it had become very low following the 2019 drought. The combination of humidity and clement temperatures created an ideal environment for fungal disease to form which ended up being particularly present in the south of the region, especially in Minervois. With the return of sunny, dry weather at the start of the summer, the vines were able to flourish. The heat didn’t reach the same extremes as seen in 2019, but the vines developed prematurely, particularly those close to coastline where the sea breezes were regular and intense. The situation was different in the areas where the temperatures were regularly over 30˚C and a lack of water slowed down the vegetal cycle. Some welcome rain allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness, especially in the appellations contrôlées.
There is no doubt that these are elegant wines with the reds being beautifully ripe without showing an excessive amount of maturity. The preserved acidity creates more classically balanced wines than those from 2019. The 2020 vintage, without being an anthology, is reminiscent of 2001 and 2007 but perhaps a little fruitier. The tannins are fine, and success was seen in all regions. We would highlight the wines from Pic Saint-Loup, les Terrasses du Larzac and Faugères. The traditionally warmer areas such as Grès de Montpellier experienced very favourable conditions which added a beautiful balance to the wines. Moving on to the whites whose acidity was also retained mean that fresh cuvées with well-defined fruit aromas could be created.
The 2020 vintage in Jura and Savoie
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 17/20
White wines: 17/20
Jura also had an unusual winter without the usual negative temperatures which were few and far between apart from two periods of frosts at the end of March and beginning of April. The dull winter months were bookended by plentiful rainfall with a little sun. The sunshine came back in full in the spring accompanied by the start of the growing season which occurred about two weeks’ earlier than normal. Temperatures were above normal throughout the season and a lack of water arose whose impact was felt, especially in the south of the region. Thanks to the harvest-saving rains in mid-August, the ripeness of the grapes, which had been mixed up until this point, became even. 2020 was sunny vintage, although not to the same extent as 2015 or 2018, which allowed the winemakers to return a quantitative and qualitive harvest. Vinification took place without any mishap, creating beautiful reds. Trousseau and Poulsard are two varieties that performed well, reaching a good level of ripeness, even better than that seen in 2019. As for the whites, the Savagnin retained a significant level of acidity in its perfectly ripe grapes. Even though they are still at the beginning of their ageing, the Vins Jaunes should be of very high quality.
Savoie saw an equally warm vintage, but it was quite unlike the preceding vintages that saw heatwaves as rain fell regularly throughout. The wines produced have plenty of character and are reminiscent of the very beautiful 2018 vintage. The Mondeuse wines are very successful, on the whole, with intense colours, pretty bursts of fruits and spices and beautiful tannin structures. For the whites, the Jacquères offer a wonderful ripeness while remaining very quaffable and expressive.
The 2020 vintage in Provence and Corsica
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 16/20
White wines: 16/20
Everything was early in Provence in 2020. After a very mild winter, the warmest recorded since 1900, spring saw a lot of rain and an episode of heavy frost at the end of March (the temperatures plummeted to -7°C inland) which had mixed effects across the region. High temperatures settled across the vineyards during July and August. However, the vegetive cycle was not particularly slowed by this and harvests took place very early, from 15th August, about a week or 10 days earlier than usual.
There are not many rosés, which make up most of the production (more than 90%), available from 2020 now as they are usually consumed in the months following their release. Having said that, making them is more technical than the process for whites and reds which means that it is a lot easier to attain a standard level of quality. The region’s white wines are promising, with distinct aromas and well-balanced palates on the whole. The cuvées containing Rolle have added liveliness. Power and freshness are characteristic of the red wines from 2020 which have attractive ageing potential.
Corsican winemakers were not spared during the 2020 vintage. After a very mild and dry winter, the vines started growing early. The rainy spring meant that the threat of mildew and powdery mildew were high, but they could mainly be kept under control. While the harvests ended up being less premature than expected, the grapes contained less sugar and a reduced amount of acidity than in 2019, all while being beautifully balanced. The white wines have a wonderful freshness about them, while the red wines offer ripe tannins and juicy fruit.
The 2020 vintage in Roussillon
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 16/20
White wines: 16/20
The weather conditions in Roussillon proved immensely challenging for winegrowers in 2020. An extremely wet January was followed by high temperatures in February and March. This led to early budburst before the return of more rain in April and May. This high level of humidity contributed to a significant outbreak of mildew, never witnessed so early in the season and in such high proportions. Grenache was the most affected variety. July and August were exceptionally hot, with temperatures two degrees higher than the usual average.
As a result, production was highly varied and, more importantly, yields were historically low levels, down by 14% compared to 2019 and as much as 30% compared to 2018! Nonetheless, the wines present a beautiful aromatic potential and a very high qualitative standard.
The white wines are delightful, offering intense aromas and generally maintaining a nice freshness as showcased by the pure and elegant wines of Collioure. Meanwhile, red wines possess rather mellow tannins and elegant finishes. The fine maturities achieved, and the balanced nature of the wines suggest that they have good ageing potential. Last but not least, fortified wines (vins doux naturels) are expressive, with the Muscats de Rivesaltes displaying a fine balance carried by well-integrated levels of acidity.
The 2020 vintage in the Loire Valley
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 17/20
White wines: 16/20
Sweet white wines: 16/20
The Loire Valley experienced a very mild and rainy winter in 2020, as did other French regions. Throughout the following months, the growth cycle was significantly early which extended through to the harvest. Grapes ripened well thanks to rain in May and June, which supported the build-up of water reserves. While the beginning of the summer was relatively fresh, temperatures then rose considerably, culminating with two heat waves in August. As a result, the majority of harvests began at the end of the month. In addition, hailstorms occurring in June and August caused substantial losses, notably in the vineyards of the Centre-Loire, in Châteaumeillant, Menetou-Salon, Reuilly, and Sancerre.
While the wines may not be as ethereal as in the previous vintage, most are rather successful. In Muscadet, the harvest proved to be excellent in both quantity and quality. The wines reveal a pleasing typicality and a very enjoyable aromatic freshness. Dry Chenin wines from Montlouis and Vouvray in Touraine are complex and possess excellent acidity. Sweet wines also fare well, with Botrytis developing nicely thus yielding concentrated and elegant juices. Wines from the easternmost part of the region present a very high standard. Sancerre grapes attained excellent levels of maturity while retaining good tension. Meanwhile, Pouilly-Fumé wines exhibit remarkable aromatic structure.
As for the red wines, the leading appellations for Cabernet Franc, namely Chinon, Bourgueil, and Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, produced very pleasant, fruity, well-balanced juices with good tannic structures that will ensure their long-term quality. The Centre-Loire produced wines with, at times, intense colours, offering complex nuances and fine concentrations, thus confirming the qualitative progress observed in the region for several years now. The 2020 vintage has significant ageing potential.
All Loire Valley wines from the 2020 vintage for sale

The 2020 vintage in the northern Rhône
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 17/20
White wines: 17/20
The northern part of the Rhône experienced a hot and dry 2020, with very little rainfall, nearly two times less than in 2019. Except for a few storms in July which reduced the water stress, August saw high temperatures but without any heatwaves. This allowed the beautiful acidity in the grapes to be retained, especially in the Viogniers. For them, the acidity level was the highest it had been for fifteen years, which was without a doubt, helped by cool nights during the ripening period. More generally, the alcohol levels were more controlled than those seen the previous year.
This is a very pretty vintage for both the red and white wines. The winemakers were able to preserve their beautiful freshness. The red wines are beautifully successful such as those from the Côte-Rôtie, which are very fine and elegant with delicious red and black fruit aromas. The same can be said the Hermitage wines which are very well defined and possess particularly seductive profiles. The Condrieu cuvées could be bold as they also seem successful with a beautiful balance and well-defined aromas.
The 2020 vintage in the southern Rhône
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 17/20
White wines: 16/20
Spring 2020 saw a lot of rain, but it arrived just at the right time. The vegetative cycle was not hindered by it and flowering took place in perfect weather conditions. The accumulated water reserves meant that the vines didn’t suffer too much with the summer heat and drought, which were not as severe as 2019. The grapes largely benefitted from rain in September, adding a freshness which perfected their ripeness.
The 2020 vintage is reminiscent of that from 2017 with the reds possessing quite a souple character, significant colour and a particularly flavourful, fruity undercurrent like that usually seen in wines from Cairanne. As a consequence, the tannins are less present than in the previous vintage, and while the ageing potential is lower, the balance between suppleness and aromatic precision can be appreciated earlier, as is the case for the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. The whites are also extremely pleasant. Fresh and aromatic, they possess beautifully pure fruit aromas. The Côtes du Vivarais have turned out to be equally successful for both colours. The whites reveal a minerality brought by the freshness of the limestone plains and the red wines are extremely concentrated and well structured. When it comes to the wines from Tavel, they have a colour intensity typical of this appellation and a great aromatic silkiness – a successful year for this Rhône rosé.
All Rhône Valley wines from the 2020 vintage for sale
The 2020 vintage in the South West
Vintage ratings
Red wines: 17/20
White wines: 16/20
Sweet white wines: 17/20
Winegrowers in the South-West of France also endured weather challenges during the 2020 vintage. Humidity, particularly in June, led to an outbreak of mildew in the Gers, Landes, and Basque regions, however, this was contained. As was the case for most of France, the summer was extremely hot and dry in the region, preventing ripening in the most vulnerable areas. However, as the season drew to a close, conditions improved, with sunny days and cool nights, ensuring that satisfactory levels of acidity were maintained. The resulting wines are of fine standard, especially the reds which are beautifully concentrated, as is the case in Gaillac and Marcillac. Cahors wines have wonderful tannic structures with balance provided by the well-preserved acidity and a fine persistence. The white wines from the traditional appellations of Irouléguy and Saint-Mont reveal a pleasing fruity and tasty character. The sweet wines, whose grapes were harvested in the first weeks of September, offer great aromatic intensity and concentration, particularly in Jurançon.