Chateau Durfort-Vivens Le Plateau Gonzague Lurton Margaux 2020

When one of this country’s Founding Fathers declares this estate one of his TOP 4 favorites for world-class wine – you’d better listen! 93 points, over 50% OFF, organic, biodynamic, brought to you by the iconic Lurton family (ahem…Chateau Margaux, people!). Stop flipping burgers for 5 seconds and grab some of this!!!

This is a world-breaker, folks. When…just WHEN do you ever see wines from a Grand Cru, Second Growth, Margaux producer at a price anywhere near this deal? UNDER $40 for a wine such as this?! Spectacular stuff!!! The historic Chateau Durfort-Vivens stayed in the same family, passing down from one generation to the next over SEVEN CENTURIES!! Eventually, in 1961, they were snatched up by their neighbors at Chateau Margaux, run by the heralded Lurton family. Centuries prior, America’s first wine expert, and cherished Bordeaux connoisseur, Thomas Jefferson (third president of the U.S. too, but never mind that…) ranked this stunning GRAND CRU estate just after famed 1st Growths of Lafite, Latour, and Margaux! Here, in the most excellent 2020 Bordeaux vintage, these folks have done it again – and we simply can’t get enough of this fantastic “Le Plateau” bottling.

Le Plateau is the estate’s blend built for POWER – and this one certainly does not disappoint, there!!!  52% cabernet sauvignon and 48% merlot…this is plush, rich, and utterly stylish right out the bottle, adding on layers of weight and complexity over time in the glass. Dark plums, and inky blackberries, are followed up with this sweet cherry cola note…just immediately captivating and compelling with that first delectable sip! But then, this roasted fennel note, and a structured opulence of tobacco, and saddle leather, with savory meatiness and roasted mushroom richness, finishing with this toasted peppercorn and chocolatey finish…WOWZA!!! Dare I say I love it even more than the 2019?! I think I dare!!! Classic Margaux at a price that is so decidedly NOT Margaux is staggering. Grown from the same 83 plots of their Grand Vin, west of the village of Soussans at the northernmost part of Margaux in deep, sandy, and gravelly soils, this is power and grace that simply coasts on FOREVER!!! Organic, biodynamic, and nearly perfect…this is just tremendous stuff! Get a few and thank me later!!!

** Happy Memorial Day, Last Bottlers! This day is about more than tasty burgers off the grill, so take a breath, and raise a glass to all of those who have served to make this country great. I’ve lost more friends than I’d care to count, and just want to say – y’all are in my heart, today and always. **