Château Croix Mouton
Bordeaux Supérieur
Bordeaux Supérieur, France
2020
Vintage
Varietal
Bordeaux Blend
Where it is, October 2026
At Peak: inside the peak window (2024-2028), within the full drinking arc.
In 2026, this Bordeaux Supérieur is at peak, with the strongest window running through 2028. The bottle's center is red cherry, cherry, blackberry, with cedar around it, so the drinking decision is less about raw age and more about whether the polished moderate tannins have settled into the medium body. Drink confidently: the steady acidity keeps the finish awake, while the recorded window says there is no need to rush unless the bottle is already mature in storage. Keep service calm and food-focused, because this is at peak rather than a purely primary fruit wine.
The ‘20 Bordeaux Supérieur.
2020 Bordeaux Supérieur: red cherry, blackberry, plum with polished tannins, steady acidity, and at-peak timing for 2026.
Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) drinking timeline
Storage and bottle condition can shift the experience.
The peak window sits inside the broader full drinking arc.
Tasting note
Expect a clear Bordeaux color moving from ruby toward garnet, with the depth shaped by its medium body. The nose starts with red cherry, cherry, blackberry, then turns toward cedar, giving the wine more contour than simple fruit sweetness. On the palate, polished moderate tannins set the frame and steady acidity keeps the middle from feeling heavy. The fruit profile stays faithful to the source note: no tropical gloss, no invented floral fireworks, just a focused red or dark-fruit core with savory Bordeaux accents. The finish should carry the wine's structural signature, either through cedar and tobacco, a stony edge, or a clean licorice-spice echo. Serve it as a table wine with air and food, not as a stand-alone cocktail glass.
The 2020 vintage
The 2020 Bordeaux season was complex: rainy winter and spring conditions raised mildew pressure, then a hot, dry summer and early harvest concentrated fruit. For Bordeaux Supérieur, that means ripe color and flesh, but the best bottles still need freshness and clean tannins to avoid heaviness. the bottle's own tasting note remains the limit for flavor claims.
About Château Croix Mouton
Bordeaux Supérieur fruit, polished moderate tannins, steady acidity, and the cedar details that keep the wine recognizably Bordeaux. The signature is not presented as grand-chateau mythology. It is a practical house expression built around Bordeaux Blend, a medium body, and a finish that asks for food. red cherry, cherry, blackberry for the fruit lane, cedar for the savory lane, and a drinking window that rewards measured cellaring rather than hype.
From the cellar: pair with
Grilled hanger steak with shallot butter
Polished moderate tannins meet the steak's char, while red cherry, cherry, blackberry keeps the pairing from turning austere.
Duck confit with lentils
Steady acidity cuts through the duck fat, and the wine's cedar notes echo the lentils.
Mushroom farro with thyme
The medium body has enough weight for grains, while cedar and polished moderate tannins hold the earthy finish together.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- In 2026, decant 45 to 75 minutes so the fruit, cedar and tannin line up before serving.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
More from Bordeaux Supérieur, France
- 2023Bernard Magrez Bordeaux
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- 2023Château Bellevue Peycharneau Sainte-Foy Bordeaux
Bordeaux Red Blend · Peak 2027-2032
- 2024Chateau Coutet Opalie
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc · Peak 2028-2036
- 2024Château Petit-Freylon Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc · Peak 2026-2028
Frequently Asked
When should I drink 2020 Château Croix Mouton Bordeaux Supérieur?
The canonical CAI full drinking arc is 2023-2031. Within that arc, the peak window is 2024-2028. The full arc is the broader period the wine may drink well; the peak window is when it is most likely to show its best balance. Storage, fill level, cork condition, and preference can shift the decision. Taste before adding more air or holding the rest.
How long should I decant it in 2026?
In 2026, decant 45 to 75 minutes so the fruit, cedar and tannin line up before serving. The goal is to let polished moderate tannins and cedar relax without stripping away the red cherry, cherry, blackberry. Taste once when opened, then again at the suggested mark; if the wine already feels soft, move it to the table rather than chasing more air.
What food works best with this bottle?
Choose food with enough protein, fat or umami to meet the wine's structure. The best pairings use polished moderate tannins, steady acidity and medium body as the guide: grilled beef for grip, duck or lamb for savory depth, and mushrooms or lentils when the bottle leans toward tobacco, cedar or earth.
What should I compare it with on Cellared?
Start with the broader Bordeaux hub, then compare the Bordeaux Blend lane for similar structure. For a sibling Bordeaux page, use Château de Francs Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux Les Cerisiers;