Winemaker Notes
The estate’s Grand Vin comes from vineyards west of the village of Ordonnac, where vines rooted in gravelly-clay soils produce a wine of finesse, tight texture, richness, and remarkable freshness. On the palate, it is pure and powerful, with great concentration, dense and spicy tannins, and mineral tension, offering fresh, full flavors of ripe black fruits and a finish of impressive depth.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Quite herbal on the nose, a medicinal touch, aniseed and bramble fruits. Smooth and satisfying, this has a nice clarity to the fruit, clean and clear, generous with lots of energy and Medoc characters. Easy drinking with a cool, classic touch - some bright red and blue fruits and a slightly chalky salinity. Very appealing and great to drink now with a juicy mid palate. Drink now if you want but it will age too. A fine example that has a real kick to it on the fresh finish. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Ageing 20% new oak. 3.63pH.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A year-in, year-out winner, the 2020 Château Potensac is another beauty that has the vintage's fresh, focused style as well as classic red and black currant/cherry fruits, some damp earth and underbrush nuances, medium body, nicely integrated acidity and oak, and outstanding length. Rating: 92+
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James Suckling
Subtle sweet spices with red berries, strawberries and cherries. Medium-bodied with chalky tannins and a long, tight finish. 75% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc.
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Vinous
The 2020 Potensac is a jewel of a wine. Bright acids give the 2020 notable energy that is immediately apparent. Crushed red berry fruit, blood orange, mint, rose petal, star anise and crushed rocks are all beautifully laced together. This finely cut, chiseled Médoc is a winner. I imagine it will age gracefully for a number of years to come. - Antonio Galloni
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Potensac is composed of 44% Merlot, 33% Cabernet A powerful, rather rich vintage for this estate, the 2020 Potensac offers up aromas of cassis, vine smoke and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vibrant palate. Framed by powdery tannins and lively acids, it's built to age with grace.Rating: 90+
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Wine Spectator
Reserved in style, this moves steadily and methodically along, with a textbook core of cassis and bitter cherry notes laced with light anise, wet stone and iron. Shows good mouthwatering cut on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
One of the most—if not the most—famous red wine regions of the world, the Medoc reaches from the city of Bordeaux northwest along the left bank of the Gironde River almost all the way to the Atlantic. Its vineyards climb along a band of flatlands, sandwiched between the coastal river marshes and the pine forests in the west. The entire region can only claim to be three to eight miles wide (at its widest), but it is about 50 miles long.
While the Medoc encompasses the Haut Medoc, and thus most of the classed-growth villages (Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St-Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe) it is really only those wines produced in the Bas-Medoc that use the Medoc appellation name. The ones farther down the river, and on marginally higher ground, are eligible to claim the Haut Medoc appellation, or their village or cru status.
While the region can’t boast a particularly dramatic landscape, impressive chateaux disperse themselves among the magically well-drained gravel soils that define the area. This optimal soil draining capacity is completely necessary and ideal in the Medoc's damp, maritime climate. These gravels also serve well to store heat in cooler years.