CH LEYDET-VALENTIN ST EMILION 2020

Most Saint-Emilion Grand Cru at this price point rely on new oak and heavy extraction; Château Leydet-Valentin does the opposite — natural fermentation, aging on lees without racking, fining, or filtration. The nine-hectare estate, certified organic since 2015, sits on sand, fine gravel, and iron-rich soils bordering Cheval Blanc. The 2020 blends 73% Merlot with 27% Cabernet Franc, and that iron-laden terroir shows clearly: ripe black plum and violet on the nose, then a firm mineral tension through the mid-palate, finishing with forest floor and fine-grained tannins.