Lafarge-Vial Fleurie Clos Vernay 2020

93+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The Lafarge family’s 2020 Clos Vernay bottling is the most black fruity of these three Fleuries this year. The bouquet is refined and focused, offering up scents of plums, dark berries, a touch of pomegranate, woodsmoke, pigeon and again, plenty of thyme in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very nicely balanced, with a rock solid core of fruit, impressive mineral drive, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex and classy finish. This too will demand a bit of bottle age before it starts to drink with true generosity, but it is going to be a long-lived and excellent example of the vintage in due course. 2027-2060. (May/Jun 2022)"

93 points/'Outstanding/Top Value,' Allen Meadows (Burghound): "(from vines planted in 1975 and 1980). A more deeply pitched and slightly riper nose blends notes of poached plum, warm earth and more prominent pepper nuances. There is better density to the beautifully textured medium-bodied flavors thanks to the abundance of dry extract buffering the firm tannic spine shaping the youthfully austere, sappy and seriously long finale. This is excellent and absolutely worth your interest. (Apr 2022)"

92 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "Another lovely and lively pink purple, no deeper in colour from this steep site with granite and quartz. Razor sharp precision here, quintessential floral notes and the bright red fruit of Fleurie with a complete and crunchy finish. This needs more time than the others, and will be exceptional. (Oct 2021)"

91+ points Neal Martin (Vinous): "From granite and quartz soils, the 2020 Fleurie La Clos Vernay has a perfumed rose petal scented bouquet with ample red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, quite tensile and steely, broody on the finish. Give this 3-4 years in bottle. Drink: 2025-2040. (Dec 2021)"