The Argentiera 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Argentiera is not as profound or long as we've seen in recent past vintages, yet this remains a proud and careful hot-vintage expression of 48% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc. The fruit intensity starts off with a bang, and the wine revs high into sixth gear for the first few moments. However, the experience is just a bit shorter overall. You might want to give it more time in bottle. This is an 80,000-bottle release.

Full bottle 1,351 g. 48% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc. 14 to 16 months in French oak barrels. It’s more gentle, more mellifluous, more coaxingly delicious than the 2021. All the hallmarks remain the same: coffee, warm spices, cooked fruit, dried fruit – but there is less in the way of dried fruit. Cassis and silk. More vineyard than winemaking (whereas the 2021 tasted like more winemaking than vineyard). The tannins are fluid, firm and full, but flowing with blackcurrant juice. For some reason, this has so much more energy and beauty than the 2021. Age or vintage, or something else? (TC)

Luscious, rich fruit with great definition and persistence. Very sculpted, but with substance and chew. Not very original, perhaps, but that's not a fault. Plush, satisfying. (RH)