Nose: Already a marked improvement with bright strawberry and garden herbs on first pass. Raspberry and some vanilla sweetness come out shortly - possibly from the oak - and meld nicely with the herbs. A note of dark chocolate emerges with time, which provides a surprising contrast.
Palate: Surprisingly full-bodied, with the bright fruit dominating on arrival and the herbs following suit towards the finish. Easy tannins emerge from the toasted oak influence. There's a level of welcome complexity found here that was absent in 2019.
Finish: Medium to long, with a decent amount of acidity. The fruit keeps expanding and undulating between strawberry and raspberry, supported by a slight touch of vanilla.
These back-to-back comparisons can be problematic for any number of reasons: shipping methods, shelf life, care of bottle, and quality of harvest can all vary. There also may be different interactions with the barrel and soil. So it makes for some interesting contrasts and hard to draw conclusions about any one particular variable making an impact. But my money goes to the 2020 vintage, which may be making a return appearance this weekend as a housewarming gift for friends.
$15