CALICEM Couvent des Jacobins, Saint-Emilion 2020 Bottle

Description

Perched in the heart of storybook Saint-Émilion, Couvent des Jacobins rises from a 13th-century Dominican monastery, an estate suffused with history and family legacy since Jean Jean’s 1902 purchase. Today Rose Noelle Brode, his descendant, guides this rare 11-hectare jewel: 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, planted densely across 69 terroir-rich parcels of sand, clay and limestone. Many vines are nearly half a century old with the Domaine embracing organic farming, earning Ecocert, from 2020. Traditional cement vinification, oak-aged elegance and a tiny micro-cuvée from 1961 vines produce wines that feel timeless, seductive, layered, and unmistakably special.

Absolutely perfect to start drinking now and to enjoy over the next 15-20 years!

The 2020 vintage is a spectacular release, benefiting from a warm growing season that provided incredible concentration and depth. On the nose, it is remarkably intense, offering a layered bouquet of black cherries, liquorice, and crushed stone, alongside a sophisticated touch of spicy oak. The palate is full bodied and luxurious, yet it is the precision and freshness that truly stand out. The tannins are exceptionally fine, providing a seamless structure that supports the rich, dark fruit. It is a sophisticated and highly accomplished red that captures the power of the 2020 vintage with remarkable elegance and poise.

JAMES SUCKLING 95-96 points/100
A deep, structured red with blackberry, blue-fruit and black olive-skin character. Full-bodied and intense with layers of fruit. Lots of flavor and depth. Chewy tannins, yet polished and cashmere-like.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 94 points/100
Drink Date: 2025 - 2045
From the team at Couvent des Jacobins, the 2020 Calicem derives from 0.2 hectares around the winery, overlooking Angélus, and 0.8 hectares on the plateau of Saint-Émilion. Offering up aromas of cassis, plums, blackberries, pencil shavings, cloves and petals, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and textural, with a velvety attack that segues into a deep core of ripe but lively fruit.

VINOUS 94 points/100
Drinking window: 2027 - 2042
The 2020 Calicem is fabulous. Rich, dramatic and explosive, the 2020 saturates the palate with black fruits, gravel, incense, chocolate and scorched earth. This powerhouse Saint-Émilion won't win any awards for subtlety, and yet it is impeccably balanced and bristling with personality.