20 Mille Bordeaux Superieur, The Complete Guide

Learn everything about 20 Mille Bordeaux Superieur, with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn about the best vintages, wine ratings, the history of the property, the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

20 Mille History, Overview

20 Mille, the Bordeaux Superieur vineyard owned by Jean-Philippe Janoueix takes its name from the density of the vines per hectare planted in the vineyard. In 2000, Jean Philippe Janoueix planted 20,000 vines per hectare in deep clay and alluvial soils.

He did this to show how he could get the most of this moderate terroir with 20 Mille, as he was convinced that high-density plantings were the answer.

20 Mille Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The small 1.4-hectare 20 Mille is planted to 100% old vine Merlot. The vineyard is really a parcel selection of the best terroir in the much larger vineyard of Chateau Croix Mouton. The vineyard is planted on Riparia rootstock. It is important to note because here, that rootstock is what is used to achieve this high level of planting density.

The vineyard is planted to a density as the name implies at 20,000 vines per hectare. The vines are incredibly packed. In fact, the minimal distance between each vine is only 80 centimeters.

The rows are packed even tighter. Each row is only separated by a tiny distance of 60 centimeters, making it difficult to farm, but the end result is naturally lower yields. The terroir is clay, limestone, and rocky soils.

As you can see, 20 Mille is a serious, spare no expense winery. The entire works of the soil and the vines are done manually as no engine-driven vehicle can penetrate between the rows of vines.

Part of the vineyard management techniques includes controlled deliberate grass growth. Two cluster thinnings (one at the closure of the grape, and one at the beginning of veraison) and the leaves are thinned at both sides.

To produce the wine of 20 Mille, whole berry fermentation takes place in 60 hectoliter wood vats. Punching of the cap every 6 hours during alcoholic fermentation, the temperature during alcoholic fermentation is between 27/28 degrees Celsius.

Jean Philippe Janoueix prefers filling of the barrels heated at the same temperature as the wine. Malolactic fermentation takes place in new French oak barrels.

The wine is aged in 100% new, French oak barrels that are a combination of 50% regular-shaped barrels and 50% of the cigar-shaped barrels favored Janoueix. The wine is aged on its lees for 6 months. No fining, no filtration. Close to 500 cases of 20 Mille are produced each vintage.

The best vintages of Chateau 20 Mille are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

When to Drink Chateau 20 Mille, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

20 Mille can be enjoyed on the young side with 1 hour to 90 minutes of decanting. The wine is usually better at 3-5 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. In the best years, the wine will best between 7-12 years of age after the vintage.

Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 2-4 hours or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Serving 20 Mille with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

20 Mille is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. 20 Mille is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

20 Mille is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Jean Philippe Janoueix owns several wines from vineyards in the Right Bank including Chateau La Croix St. Georges and Sacre Coeur in Pomerol, La Confession in Saint Emilion, as well as Cap St. George from St. Georges, St. Emilion and Croix Mouton, a Bordeaux Superieur.

www.jpjdomaines.com

Château Croix Mouton (Jean-Philippe Janoueix) Wine Tasting Notes

25 Vintages 97,659 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2021
88
Medium-bodied, light, fresh, refreshing and forward, right off the bat, all the ripe, juicy red plums and cherries come through with a touch of chocolate and licorice on the back end. Drink this on the young side for the maximum amount of fruit. Drink from 2023-2028. 87-89

Medium-bodied, light, fresh, refreshing and forward, right off the bat, all the ripe, juicy red plums and cherries come through with a touch of chocolate and licorice on the back end. Drink this on the young side for the maximum amount of fruit. Drink from 2023-2028. 87-89

1,049 Views   Tasted
2020
91
Dark in color, the wine is lush, plush, polished and loaded with dark cocoa, cherries, plums, oak, smoke and espresso in every sniff and sip. Produced from 100% Merlot and planted to a density of 20,000 vines per hectare, hence the name, this is going to be delicious with just a year or two of age. 90-92 Pts

Dark in color, the wine is lush, plush, polished and loaded with dark cocoa, cherries, plums, oak, smoke and espresso in every sniff and sip. Produced from 100% Merlot and planted to a density of 20,000 vines per hectare, hence the name, this is going to be delicious with just a year or two of age. 90-92 Pts

1,125 Views   Tasted
2020
88
Medium-bodied, fresh, bright and fruity, with soft texture and sweet, vibrant berries on the nose and palate. The wine is completed with a juicy, licorice, spice and earthy, cherry-tinged finish. This remains a contender for the best value wine in all of Bordeaux. Drink it on release and purchase it by the case. 87-89 Pts

Medium-bodied, fresh, bright and fruity, with soft texture and sweet, vibrant berries on the nose and palate. The wine is completed with a juicy, licorice, spice and earthy, cherry-tinged finish. This remains a contender for the best value wine in all of Bordeaux. Drink it on release and purchase it by the case. 87-89 Pts

2,051 Views   Tasted
2019
90
Deeply-colored, with layers of dark cocoa and cherries in every sniff and sip, the wine has concentration, round textures and a dark, fruity finish. The wine was produced from 100% old vine Merlot. 89-91 Pts

Deeply-colored, with layers of dark cocoa and cherries in every sniff and sip, the wine has concentration, round textures and a dark, fruity finish. The wine was produced from 100% old vine Merlot. 89-91 Pts

2,671 Views   Tasted
2019
89
It is hard to find a better value in Bordeaux today, The wine is soft, round, ripe, plummy, earthy and elegant. Already open and accessible, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, fruity and plummy and a nice sweetness and hint of cocoa that comes with all those juicy plums in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2022-2029.

It is hard to find a better value in Bordeaux today, The wine is soft, round, ripe, plummy, earthy and elegant. Already open and accessible, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, fruity and plummy and a nice sweetness and hint of cocoa that comes with all those juicy plums in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2022-2029.

2,020 Views   Tasted
Already accessible, this delicious, medium-bodied crowd-pleaser is going to be great on release. All its soft, round, fruity, earthy, ripe fruits surrounded by licorice, smoke, cocoa with light floral notes will be just perfect for near-term drinking. It is hard to find a better Bordeaux value wine these days. 88-90 Pts

Already accessible, this delicious, medium-bodied crowd-pleaser is going to be great on release. All its soft, round, fruity, earthy, ripe fruits surrounded by licorice, smoke, cocoa with light floral notes will be just perfect for near-term drinking. It is hard to find a better Bordeaux value wine these days. 88-90 Pts

3,558 Views   Tasted
2018
89
Medium bodied, forward, easy drinking and already quite charming, the fruit is ripe, sweet and delicious. One of the top value plays in Bordeaux, enjoy this on release.

Medium bodied, forward, easy drinking and already quite charming, the fruit is ripe, sweet and delicious. One of the top value plays in Bordeaux, enjoy this on release.

1,987 Views   Tasted
It is going to be hard to find a better value wine in Bordeaux than this. The wine is forward, round and fruity with black plum and floral notes. Drink this young for the fruit as well as for the pleasure. Produced from 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. 87-89 Pts

It is going to be hard to find a better value wine in Bordeaux than this. The wine is forward, round and fruity with black plum and floral notes. Drink this young for the fruit as well as for the pleasure. Produced from 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. 87-89 Pts

3,003 Views   Tasted
2017
85
Made for simple pleasure, this wine is harmonious and soft -- perfect for straightforward, early drinking. Produced from 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, this is the 20th vintage for the estate, commemorated with a special label for the 2017 bottling.

Made for simple pleasure, this wine is harmonious and soft -- perfect for straightforward, early drinking. Produced from 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, this is the 20th vintage for the estate, commemorated with a special label for the 2017 bottling.

2,347 Views   Tasted
2016
88
Opaque in color, the wine focuses on its rich, core of ripe, fat, dark red berries. The wine provides a big gulp of dark red, juicy, ripe, fleshy fruits. A year or two after release, it will be even better.

Opaque in color, the wine focuses on its rich, core of ripe, fat, dark red berries. The wine provides a big gulp of dark red, juicy, ripe, fleshy fruits. A year or two after release, it will be even better.

1,719 Views   Tasted
Dark in color, the wine is round, sweet, juicy and forward. There is a lot of fruit here that goes well the licorice, smoke and black cherry accents. This should be a charmer on release.

Dark in color, the wine is round, sweet, juicy and forward. There is a lot of fruit here that goes well the licorice, smoke and black cherry accents. This should be a charmer on release.

1,494 Views   Tasted
2016
86
Medium bodied, with a forward, bright, strawberry and black raspberry nose. Sweet, juicy and open, this is a wine to drink in its youth.

Medium bodied, with a forward, bright, strawberry and black raspberry nose. Sweet, juicy and open, this is a wine to drink in its youth.

6,293 Views   Tasted
2015
90
Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine reached 14.4% ABV with a spicy edge to its round textured, espresso, cocoa plum and licorice personality. Fresh; sweet and with a touch of oak in the round finish, this is the best vintage yet for 20 Mille.

Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine reached 14.4% ABV with a spicy edge to its round textured, espresso, cocoa plum and licorice personality. Fresh; sweet and with a touch of oak in the round finish, this is the best vintage yet for 20 Mille.

1,360 Views   Tasted
2015
88
If there is a better value in Bordeaux wine today, buy it! I’ve looked and it is going to be hard to find. In 2015, you find better levels of fruit, sweetness and softer textures than before. The fruits are clean, ripe and fresh with a forward character.

If there is a better value in Bordeaux wine today, buy it! I’ve looked and it is going to be hard to find. In 2015, you find better levels of fruit, sweetness and softer textures than before. The fruits are clean, ripe and fresh with a forward character.

3,022 Views   Tasted
2014
88
Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine is 13.8% ABV. Cherries and dark chocolate on the nose, with an open, round character, and sweet, black cherry finish. 88-90 Pts

Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine is 13.8% ABV. Cherries and dark chocolate on the nose, with an open, round character, and sweet, black cherry finish. 88-90 Pts

1,628 Views   Tasted
2014
85
Peppery black raspberries on the nose, the wine is soft and approachable with a nice, easy drinking, black cherry note in the finish. Blending 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.7% ABV. This remains one of the most consistent value driven wines in all of Bordeaux. 84-86 Pts

Peppery black raspberries on the nose, the wine is soft and approachable with a nice, easy drinking, black cherry note in the finish. Blending 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.7% ABV. This remains one of the most consistent value driven wines in all of Bordeaux. 84-86 Pts

3,745 Views   Tasted
2013
88
Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine is all about the open, black cherry and espresso personality, plush textures, and forward, chocolate character. 87-89 Pts

Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine is all about the open, black cherry and espresso personality, plush textures, and forward, chocolate character. 87-89 Pts

1,540 Views   Tasted
2013
85
With sweet black cherries, a forward personality, and a hint of chocolate in the finish. From a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.4% ABV. This remains a serious contender the most consistent, value Bordeaux wine produced. 84-85 Pts

With sweet black cherries, a forward personality, and a hint of chocolate in the finish. From a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.4% ABV. This remains a serious contender the most consistent, value Bordeaux wine produced. 84-85 Pts

4,502 Views   Tasted
2012
89
With a lush, approachable, black cherry and chocolate character, the wine is in the right place for current consumption.

With a lush, approachable, black cherry and chocolate character, the wine is in the right place for current consumption.

1,530 Views   Tasted
From 100% Merlot, the wine is soft, fleshy, filled with dark cherries, forward and open. 87-89 Pts

From 100% Merlot, the wine is soft, fleshy, filled with dark cherries, forward and open. 87-89 Pts

1,687 Views   Tasted
2012
87
Showing secondary characteristics, this soft, supple, medium bodied, easy to like, crowd pleaser will be best over the next 2-4 years.

Showing secondary characteristics, this soft, supple, medium bodied, easy to like, crowd pleaser will be best over the next 2-4 years.

2,673 Views   Tasted
From 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, this forward, sweet and oaky wine will be best in its first few years of life. This crowd pleaser is a steal at this price. 86-88 Pts

From 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, this forward, sweet and oaky wine will be best in its first few years of life. This crowd pleaser is a steal at this price. 86-88 Pts

3,905 Views   Tasted
2011
88
Produced from a 1.4-hectare section of the Croix Mouton vineyard planted to 100% Merlot, the wine takes its name from the fact that it’s planted to 20,000 vines per hectare. Mineral and blackberry with a bright, cherry, red berry finish. 87-89 Pts

Produced from a 1.4-hectare section of the Croix Mouton vineyard planted to 100% Merlot, the wine takes its name from the fact that it’s planted to 20,000 vines per hectare. Mineral and blackberry with a bright, cherry, red berry finish. 87-89 Pts

2,022 Views   Tasted
2011
86
From Jean Philippe Janoueix, this wine remains one of the top value Bordeaux wines from the region. Cocoa and cherry with a light strawberry finish. 85-86 Pts

From Jean Philippe Janoueix, this wine remains one of the top value Bordeaux wines from the region. Cocoa and cherry with a light strawberry finish. 85-86 Pts

4,937 Views   Tasted
2010
90
20 Mille is produced from a 1.4-hectare section of the Croix Mouton vineyard planted to 100% Merlot. The wine reached 14.9% ABV in this vintage. The wine takes its name from the fact it’s planted to 20,000 vines per ha. According to the owner, Jean-Philippe Janoueix, the purpose of this density of planting, is to show quality Bordeaux can be produced from terroir that is not only found in the top appellations. Black cherry, chocolate and licorice aromas couple with sweet, round textures, concentration and depth. As the vineyards continue aging, the wine keeps getting better. 89-91 Pts

20 Mille is produced from a 1.4-hectare section of the Croix Mouton vineyard planted to 100% Merlot. The wine reached 14.9% ABV in this vintage. The wine takes its name from the fact it’s planted to 20,000 vines per ha. According to the owner, Jean-Philippe Janoueix, the purpose of this density of planting, is to show quality Bordeaux can be produced from terroir that is not only found in the top appellations. Black cherry, chocolate and licorice aromas couple with sweet, round textures, concentration and depth. As the vineyards continue aging, the wine keeps getting better. 89-91 Pts

4,333 Views   Tasted
2010
88
Croix Mouton from Jean Philippe Janoueix remains one of the top value Bordeaux wines from the region. From a blend of 87% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot. Oak, black raspberries, medium bodied, round, mocha and cherry finish. Will drink well on release. 87-88 Pts

Croix Mouton from Jean Philippe Janoueix remains one of the top value Bordeaux wines from the region. From a blend of 87% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and a drop of Petit Verdot. Oak, black raspberries, medium bodied, round, mocha and cherry finish. Will drink well on release. 87-88 Pts

6,680 Views   Tasted
2009
88
2009 20 Mille is produced from a 1.4-hectare section of the Croix Mouton vineyard. The chateau takes its name from the fact it’s planted 20,000 vines per ha. Produced from 100% merlot, this round textured wine shows aromas of accented, dark jammy fruit, licorice, and chocolate. 50% of the wine is aged in the cigar shaped barrels. With vines planted this closely, work in the vineyards can be exacting. According to the owner, Jean-Philippe Janoueix, the purpose of this density of planting is to show that quality Bordeaux can be produced from terroir outside the finest regions.

2009 20 Mille is produced from a 1.4-hectare section of the Croix Mouton vineyard. The chateau takes its name from the fact it’s planted 20,000 vines per ha. Produced from 100% merlot, this round textured wine shows aromas of accented, dark jammy fruit, licorice, and chocolate. 50% of the wine is aged in the cigar shaped barrels. With vines planted this closely, work in the vineyards can be exacting. According to the owner, Jean-Philippe Janoueix, the purpose of this density of planting is to show that quality Bordeaux can be produced from terroir outside the finest regions.

3,454 Views   Tasted
2009
87
Earth, spice and cherry in the nose, for the money, there is a nice, sweet, plummy richness to the wine. This will be perfect for drinking at a young age, if you’re looking for value in Bordeaux wine.

Earth, spice and cherry in the nose, for the money, there is a nice, sweet, plummy richness to the wine. This will be perfect for drinking at a young age, if you’re looking for value in Bordeaux wine.

4,613 Views   Tasted
2009 Croix Mouton is 87% merlot, 12% cabernet franc, and 1% petit verdot. The wine will age for nine months in 33% new and 67% one-wine old barrels, 45% of which are cigar shaped barrels. This medium bodied wine offers licorice and jammy black raspberry notes, ending in black raspberry and kirsch flavors. 84-87 Pts.

2009 Croix Mouton is 87% merlot, 12% cabernet franc, and 1% petit verdot. The wine will age for nine months in 33% new and 67% one-wine old barrels, 45% of which are cigar shaped barrels. This medium bodied wine offers licorice and jammy black raspberry notes, ending in black raspberry and kirsch flavors. 84-87 Pts.

6,241 Views   Tasted
2005
83
Slightly past its peak, with tobacco and olive tapenade notes in the finish, the wine requires consumption before the remaining fruit fades.

Slightly past its peak, with tobacco and olive tapenade notes in the finish, the wine requires consumption before the remaining fruit fades.

3,437 Views   Tasted
This is a serious contender for the best value Bordeaux wine from this legendary vintage! This is very easy to like, drink and afford wine is a true crowd pleaser. it's not going to make old bones and should be consumed in the the first 3- 5 years. But at this price, it's a steal as it runs about $12!

This is a serious contender for the best value Bordeaux wine from this legendary vintage! This is very easy to like, drink and afford wine is a true crowd pleaser. it's not going to make old bones and should be consumed in the the first 3- 5 years. But at this price, it's a steal as it runs about $12!

3,547 Views   Tasted
2005
88
Soft, smooth and fully mature, the wine has retained its round texture and sweetness. There is no reason to age it any longer. If you have any bottles, pop a cork!

Soft, smooth and fully mature, the wine has retained its round texture and sweetness. There is no reason to age it any longer. If you have any bottles, pop a cork!

3,486 Views   Tasted