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»Beautiful finesse here that shows currants, roasted red chili pepper and a hint of charcoal, mineral and pencil shavings. Very refined and layered with a juicy, medium body and a long, composed finish. Classy and very layered. Drink or hold.«

James Suckling

»The 2021 Brane-Cantenac notably marries fruit intensity with energy and structure. There is an exotic richness to the 2021 that is impossible to miss. Kirsch, red plum, blood orange, cinnamon, new leather and spice all meld together. The 2021 is bold, sumptuous and alluring. There is certainly a lot to look forward to. The oak needs to fully integrate, but that is what élevage is for. Brane-Cantenac was impressive on both occasions I tasted it.«

Antonio Galloni

»The 2021 Brane-Cantenac shows considerable promise, exhibiting a deep bouquet of wild berries, cassis, spices and violets, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and impressively concentrated palate that's framed by powdery tannins, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. This seamless and enveloping wine is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and the balance Carmenère and Petit Verdot. Once again, it's derived from the château's best holdings on the plateau of Brane and is maturing in entirely new barrels.«

Robert M. Parker Wine Advocate

»The 2021 Brane-Cantenac was picked from September 23 until October 7 at a respectable 41.2hL/ha and aged 100% new oak. It has a fragrant nose of dark red fruit, undergrowth, pencil box and light minty scents, understated at first but opening up nicely in the glass (it always requires patience). The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and fresh as a daisy, displaying impressive tension. This focused, precise Brane-Cantenac conveys a great deal of harmony. The tensile, graphite finish lingers long in the mouth. While not quite reaching the lofty heights of "peak Brane,” this is a very commendable and quite cerebral wine for the vintage.«

Neal Martin

»Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Feinwürzig, schwarze Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Edelholz, zart nach Lakritze. Komplex, straff, kühle Stilistik, feine Tannine, frisch, lebendig, sehr präzise und gut anhaftend, ein sehr gelungener Wein, der an die großen Klassiker des Medocs der »good old times« erinnert.«

Falstaff Punkte

»I loved the nose on the 2021 Château Brane-Cantenac, which has good intensity as well as the vintage's fresher, vibrant, focused style. Ripe red and blue fruits, violets, tobacco, and a beautiful sense of graphite and minerality all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a supple, elegant, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. The overall balance here is spot on, and while this is approachable and delicious even today, it should shine for two decades. The blend is 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, and Petit Verdot, with the élevage spanning 18 months in new barrels.«

Jeb Dunnuck

»Tiefgründiges royales Cabernet Sauvignon-Bouqet, edle Cassiswürze gepaart mit frisch gepflückten schwarzen Johanisbeeren, Brasiltabak, Schokopastillen und Fliedernoten. Am energiegeladenen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, balancierter Rasse, pfeffrigem Extrakt und engmaschigem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale Waldkirsche, tiefschürfende Terroirwürze und erhabene Adstringenz. Ein grandioser Margaux, (fast) so gut wie der 2019er - nur in einer klassischen Ausrichtung!«

Weinwisser

Frankreich

eLabelTitel

Trocken

Merlot

2021 Château Brane Cantenac

<h2>Die Weinbaugebiete des Bordeaux</h2><p>Das Bordeaux besteht aus fünf unterschiedlichen Regionen, die aufgrund ihrer Lage verschiedene Weinarten in unterschiedlicher Qualität hervorbringen. Maßgeblich für den Anbau der verschiedenen Weinarten sind die Flüsse Gironde, Garonne und Dordogne sowie Bodenbeschaffenheiten und Höhenlagen. So können beispielsweise in den niedrigeren, flussnahen Lagen rote Rebsorten nicht zu ihrer höchsten Qualität heranreifen.</p><p>Das »linke Flussufer« besteht aus den Gebieten <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/medoc">Médoc</a> und <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/weine-aus-graves.html">Graves</a>. Die Appellationen auf der linken Uferseite der Gironde liegen oftmals im Schwemmland des Flusses. Die Böden aus Lehm und Sand in den tieferen Lagen der Region sind für einige Rebsorten-Arten schlicht zu nass. Höher gelegene Châteaus in <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/pauillac">Pauillac</a> profitieren hingegen vom Wasserabzug der Kiesberge. Dort wachsen einige der Spitzengewächse der Rebsorte <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/cabernet-sauvignon.html">Cabernet Sauvignon</a>. In dieser Region liegt auch das <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-mouton-rothschild">Château Mouton-Rothschild</a>, eines der nur fünf Premier Grand Cru Classé, der höchsten Qualitätsauszeichnung Frankreichs für Weingüter.</p><p>Auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite der Gironde liegt das Anbaugebiet Blayais et Bourgeais. Dieses rechte Ufer zeichnet sich durch Ton-Kalk- und Ton-Kies-Böden aus. Eine Boden-Mischung, die sich sowohl für den Anbau von roten Rebsorten-Gewächsen (hauptsächlich Merlot), als auch von Weißwein-Trauben wie <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/semillon.html">Sémillon</a> eignet.</p><p>Noch etwas weiter südlich, auf dem rechten Flussufer der Dordogne, liegt die Region Libournais. Die prominenteste Rebsorte ist hier Merlot. Die Traube profitiert vom lehm- und kalkhaltigen Boden, der ihr den typischen Merlot-Geschmack von kräftigen roten Früchten verleiht. Den Kern der Region bilden die Appellationen <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/saint-emilion">Saint-Émilion</a> und <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/pomerol">Pomerol</a>. Dort steht auch das <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-la-fleur-petrus">Château La Fleur Petrus</a>, das für ihre reinsortigen Merlot-Weine bekannt ist.</p><p>Zwischen Garonne und Dordogne liegt die Hügellandschaft Entre-Deux-Mers. Ihre Weinberge aus überwiegend ton- und kieshaltigem Boden bieten theoretisch eine gute Grundlage für den Anbau von weißen Rebsorten. Doch die sinkende Nachfrage danach begünstigte auch hier die Produktion von Rotweinen.</p><h2>Qualitätsstufen von Bordeauxweinen</h2><p>Knapp drei Viertel aller Bordeauxweine sind Qualitätsweine, also solche mit kontrollierter Herkunft. Als Faustregel der Klassifizierung, woran Sie guten Wein aus dem Bordeaux erkennen, gilt: Je kleiner die eingegrenzte Anbauregion, desto höher die Qualität ihrer Weine. Dabei unterscheiden sich regionale, subregionale und kommunale Appellationen.</p><p>Die Basis davon bilden sogenannte Bordeaux- und Bordeaux Supérieur Weine. Etwas mehr als die Hälfte der Wein-Gesamtproduktion stammt aus solchen regionalen Appellationen wie dem Médoc. Die Qualitätsstufe darüber bilden subregionale Appellationen, also Teilbereiche eines Gebiets. Das sind beispielsweise das Haut-Médoc für Rotweine und Entre-Deux-Mers für trockene Weißweine. Kommunale Appellationen, also einzelne Gemeinden wie Pauillac und <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/margaux">Margaux</a>, gehören zur höchsten Qualitätsstufe.</p><h2>Weitere Wein-Klassifikationen im Bordeaux</h2><p>Im Bordeaux gelten noch weitere Wein-Klassifikationen der einzelnen Weingüter, oft anhand des Marktpreises des vom Weingut erzeugten Weins. So klassifiziert man seit 1855, anlässlich der damaligen Weltausstellung in Paris, die Weingüter im Médoc, Sauternes und Barsac nach Cinquièmes, Quatrièmes, Troisièmes, Deuxièmes und Premiers Crus. Die Klassifizierung von 1855 wurde nur ein einziges Mal ergänzt: Das bereits erwähnte Château Mouton-Rothschild in Pauillac stieg 1973 von Deuxième in den Status der Premiers Crus auf. Gemeinsam mit dem Château Latour (Pauillac), <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-lafite-rothschild">Château Lafite-Rothschild</a> (Pauillac), <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-margaux">Château Margaux</a> (Margaux) und <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-haut-brion">Château Haut-Brion</a> (Pessac in Graves) bildet es die fünf Premier Crus des Bordeaux. Ihnen entspringen mit die teuersten Weine der Welt, die wir zum Teil auch in unserem Angebot führen. Nennenswert ist hier beispielsweise der 2010 Château Haut-Brion, ein trockener, fein nach Zigarren und Holz schmeckender, Rotwein.</p><p>In Graves unterscheidet man zwischen Rot- und Weißweinen. Die Weine der Appellation Saint-Émilion teilt man in zwei Oberklassen: Premier Grand Cru Classé (Unterklassen A und B) sowie Grand Cru Classé. Für einzelne Gebiete, wie beispielsweise Pomerol, existiert keine offizielle Klassifikation.</p><p>Unser Bordeaux-Experte und Kundenberater, Ulrich Breitenstein, empfiehlt den <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-du-grand-moueys.html" target="_blank">Château Grand Mouëys</a>, eine klassische Cuvée mit Noten von roten Beeren und frisch geröstetem Kaffee, elegant und lang: »Für mich einer der schönsten Bordeauxweine für jeden Tag.«</p><h2>Rebsorten und Weinarten aus dem Bordeaux</h2><p>Das Bordeaux ist nicht nur die weltweit größte zusammenhängende Anbaufläche für Qualitätswein, sondern auch die ertragreichste Weinregion Europas. Den größten Anteil davon bilden rote Rebsorten und Weine. Doch der Region entspringen auch einige gute Weißweine.</p><h2>Rotweine aus dem Bordeaux</h2><p>Rote Rebsorten machen knapp 85 Prozent des gesamten Ertrages des Bordeaux aus. <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/merlot.html">Merlot</a> ist die mit Abstand am häufigsten angebaute rote Traube. Merlot produziert samtig-weiche und gleichzeitig vollmundige <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/franzoesischer-rotwein.html" target="_blank">französische Rotweine</a>. Vereinzelt auch reinsortig abgefüllt, setzen Winzer sie eher im Verschnitt mit Cabernet Sauvignon, der Bordeaux-Rebsorte Nummer zwei, ein. Aufgrund des ozeanischen Klimas entstehen aus den Gewächsen des Cabernet Sauvignon tiefdunkle Weine, die nach grüner Paprika schmecken. Je nach Länge der Lagerung im Holzfass kann sich auch eine Lakritz-Note entwickeln.</p><p>Knapp zehn Prozent der angebauten roten Rebsorten ist <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/cabernet-franc.html">Cabernet Franc</a>. Sie ist ebenfalls ein beliebter Verschnitt-Partner der zuvor genannten Rebsorten und erinnert im Geschmack an dunkle Beeren. Seltener im Anbau und ausschließlich eingesetzt als Ergänzung der Hauptrebsorten sind <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/malbec.html">Malbec</a>, <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/carmenere.html">Carménère</a> und <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/petit-verdot.html">Petit Verdot</a>. In Verschnitten dient letztere oft als Farb-Verdunkler, indem man sie in geringen Anteilen beimischt. </p><h2>Die Rotwein-Favoriten unserer Experten</h2><p>Von unkomplizierten Alltags-Weinen bis hin zu opulenten Weltbekanntheiten, Rotweine des Bordeaux gibt es in jeglicher Ausführung. Wir verraten Ihnen unsere vier liebsten Rotweine:</p><p>So ist beispielsweise der <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-loyasson-rouge.html">Château Loyasson Rouge</a> ein trockener, weicher Basis-Bordeaux aus Merlot mit fruchtiger Cassisnote. Perfekt für den alltäglichen Genuss. Ein weiterer Favorit, besonders als Begleiter zu Käsevariationen, ist der <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-carbonneau-cuvee-sequoia.html">Château Carbonneau »Sequoia«</a>. Eine würzig-kräftige Cuvée aus Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot und Cabernet Franc, mit spürbarem Tannin und feiner Holznote.</p><p>Wahre Sonntags- und Feiertags-Weine sind die des <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/arnauld-chateau">Château Arnauld</a>: Tiefgängige Weine mit üppigen Aromen roter und schwarzer Beerenfrüchte aus Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot und Petit Verdot.</p><p>Exklusiv und ausgesprochen komplex ist der 2016 Château Mouton-Rothschild. Trotz seiner Reichhaltigkeit ist er mit floralen und fruchtigen Noten beachtlich frisch und samtig. Ein sehr edler Speisebegleiter, zum Beispiel zu Filet von Rind oder Kalb, aber auch als Solist hervorragend.</p><h2>Es muss nicht immer Rot sein: Bordeaux Weißweine und Rosés</h2><p>Etwas weniger prominent sind die Weißweine des Bordeaux. Der oft kalkhaltige Boden und das moderate Klima kommen den weißen Rebsorten hier zugute. Neben den größten Rebsorten Sémillon und <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/sauvignon-blanc.html">Sauvignon Blanc</a> wachsen im Bordeaux auch Muscadelle, Colombard, Merlot Blanc, Sauvignon Gris sowie Ugni Blanc.</p><p>Kenner der Bordeaux-Weißweine unterscheiden zwischen zwei Arten <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/trockener-weisswein.html" target="_blank">trockener Weißweine</a>: Zum einen existieren fruchtige, junge Weine wie der <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/chateau-moulin-de-launay.html">Château Moulin de Launay</a> aus dem Entre-Deux-Mers. Ein sehr frischer Weißwein, der nach Blüten von Rose, Jasmin, Weißdorn duftet und eine feine Mineralik zeigt. Die komplexe Cuvée aus fünf weißen Trauben brilliert beispielsweise zu Fisch und Spargel.</p><p>Auf der anderen Seite bietet das Bordeaux strukturierte und lange gelagerte trockene Weißweine. Ein hervorragender Wein dieser Art ist der Château Villa Bel Air Blanc. Eine Assemblage aus Sémillon, Muscadelle und Sauvignon Blanc, die 9 Monate im Barriquefass reift. Dadurch gesellen sich zu den tropisch-fruchtigen Aromen von Mango und Ananas, auch buttrige Noten und Vanilleanklänge. Ideal zu Geflügel oder cremigen Käsesorten.</p><p>Süße Weißweine bestehen meist aus Sémillon und Muscadelle. So wie die <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/reserve-mouton-cadet-sauternes-266074.html">Réserve Mouton Cadet</a> aus <a href="https://www.ludwig-von-kapff.de/sauternes">Sauternes</a>. Gekeltert aus Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc und Sémillon ist er edelsüß, mit Noten von Pfirsich, Aprikose, Mirabelle, Anis, Karamell und Honig. Ein sehr reicher und am Gaumen weicher Wein, der trotz seiner Süße frisch schmeckt. Passt perfekt zu Zitronenkuchen oder Blauschimmelkäse.</p><p>Zu guter Letzt müssen wir an dieser Stelle noch einen der Roséweine des Bordeaux vorstellen: Der Mouton Cadet Les Parcelles Rosé ist ein junger, fruchtiger Wein. Modern aufgemacht und aus Merlot und Cabernet Sauvignon assembliert. Seine Noten von Himbeeren, Grapefruit und Kokosnuss machen ihn zu einem hervorragenden Aperitif.</p><h2>Wein aus dem Bordeaux bei Ludwig von Kapff bestellen</h2><p>Bestellen Sie die Bordeaux-Wein Lieblinge unserer Experten und weitere der besten Weine der Region bei Ludwig von Kapff. Bevor wir einen Wein in unser sorgfältig ausgesuchtes Sortiment übernehmen, prüfen unsere Experten diesen streng auf Qualität und Geschmack. So garantieren wir Ihnen eine Auswahl der besten Weine des Bordeaux.</p><p>Wünschen Sie weitere Informationen oder eine persönliche Beratung? Sie erreichen unsere kompetenten Berater per Telefon (0421 39 94 317) Montags bis Freitags von 8:00 bis 17:00 Uhr oder per Mail (service@ludwig-von-kapff.de).</p><p>Bei einer Bestellung ab zwölf Flaschen liefern wir Ihnen unsere Spitzenweine versandkostenfrei nach Hause.</p>

Bordeaux

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Rebsorten Auflistung

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Inhalt (Liter)

Château Brane Cantenac

CrossDocking

»Excellent depth for 2021. Refined and complex with aromas of graphite, cassis, mineral, chili chocolate, white pepper and cigar box. Fresh and juicy, with fine, polished tannins. Long, refined and nuanced. Medium body. Fine tannins. An overachiever for the vintage. Drink or hold.«

»The 2021 Gloria, which contains a healthy slug of Petit Verdot (14%), has a clean and pure bouquet with black cherries, bilberry, cedar and crushed violet scents, almost Margaux-like in style. The oak is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with a graphite-tinged entry. This is quite a "vertical" Gloria, conservative in some ways, yet it does not compensate in terms of precision on the finish, and it feels reassuringly long on the aftertaste. There's good potential here.«

2021 2021 Château Gloria

sapEANFlasche

Château Gloria

»Black berries and black plums on the nose with some tobacco leaf, graphite and bitter chocolate. It’s focused on the palate, with firm tannins that melt and relax into the black fruit. Medium-bodied and well-structured. Mineral at the end. Try from 2025.«

»This is lifted, bright and high toned. There's some energy here with tannins that are fine but have bite and tang and support the expression and coat the mouth in grippy saltiness. A good effort this year, not trying too hard. Mouthwatering but cool and crisp with a lovely weight and frame and flavours of blueberry, liquorice, flint and dried herbs.«

Decanter Punkte

»The flagship 2021 Château Nenin is terrific, coming from more classic Pomerol clay soils and based on 64% Merlot and 36% Cabernet Franc, resting in 35% new French oak. It's worth pointing out that this estate lies next to Trotanoy and Le Pin, so this is a fabulous terroir. A beautiful ripe, sexy Pomerol with lots of darker, almost blue fruits as well as notes of chocolate and damp earth, it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, voluptuous mouthfeel, and a great finish. This hit 13.3% alcohol with an IPT of 65.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart nach Edelholz, dunkle Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Gewürzen, etwas Nougat. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeerig, schlanke Textur, frisch strukturiert, mineralisch, zart salzig im Nachhall.«

»The 2021 Gazin has a harmonious, defined bouquet of red and black fruit laced with black truffle and well-integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly tough tannins on the entry. A much more linear Gazin compared to recent vintages, leading to a sapid finish. It pulls up a bit short now, but it should fill out during élevage.«

2021 Château Gazin

»With aromas of red currants, ripe cherries, flowers and hints of nutmeg and salt, this medium-bodied red has a solid core of fruit with medium and ripe tannins that nicely frame the wine and give depth and energy. Lightly chewy and caressing at the end. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 2% cabernet franc, 2% malbec and 1% petit verdot. Better to drink in two or three years, but best after 2027.«

»Dark and deep on the nose, seductive, that beautiful Margaux glamour and elegance - it's completely captivating with hints of violet and rose too after a few minutes. So succulent and juicy on the palate, the tannins are silky, barely present in terms of overt texture but they do give support so you get a great mouthfeel here. The definition is excellent, a real precision of fruit with richness and energy, these beautiful redcurrant, raspberry, blackcurrant and black cherry flavours. It's bright and almost lightly framed, gliding across the palate giving bright fruit with some soft perfume. It grows on the palate, at first being quite light and pleasant then deeping and becoming more refined with different elements coming on show. Well extracted with the aromatics taking centre stage instead of overt power or tannic interference. A joy to drink! 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot complete the blend.«

»Redcurrants, red plums, smoked tobacco, and hints of iron, as well as some floral notes, all emerge from the 2021 Château D'Issan, a medium-bodied, pure, focused, elegant Margaux that shines in the vintage due to its balance and seamlessness. It's already up-front and accessible today yet should have 15 years or more of prime drinking. The blend of the 2021 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, raised in 50% new oak.«

»The 2021 D'Issan offers up attractive aromas of wild berries, violets, fresh mint and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, polished and seamless palate that's layered and suave, with a pretty core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins. This elegant, sensual wine will offer a broad drinking window.«

»The 2021 d'Issan was matured in 50% new oak and bottled in June. This displays admirable vivacity on the nose, mainly red-fruited, with clove, a touch of mocha and hints of pencil shavings surfacing with time in the glass-well-defined and "correct". The palate is pliant on the entry with a slight creaminess to the texture. Showing red berry fruit, allspice and hints of cinnamon and white pepper, this exerts a gentle grip with quite a persistant aftertaste. Just a bit short and light on the finish, it doesn't have the finesse of the 2019 or 2020, but it has plenty of character and will drink after six or seven years.«

2021 Château d’Issan

Château D'Issan

»Dark plums, cherries, grilled citrus and a touch of dark earth decadence and mushrooms on the nose. Subtle dark spices, too. Medium to full body on the palate with dusty tannins and a lengthy, intricate finish. Refined and layered. Already complex. Drink or hold.«

»The 2021 La Dominique opens in the glass with notes of minty berries, plums and cherries, framed by a discreet touch of new oak. Medium to full-bodied, suave and polished, with an attractive core of cool, layered fruit, it's framed by powdery tannins that assert themselves on the gently structured finish. While it will show well out of the gates, this will also reward at least a modicum of bottle age.«

»The 2021 La Dominique presents a focused nose of perfumed blackberry, raspberry, cedar and sous-bois scents with well-integrated oak. The well-balanced palate is fresh and crisp with fine-grained tannins. Silky-smooth leading into a very persistent, tensile finish. This continues La Dominique's upward trajectory. Excellent.«

»Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Schwarze Herzkirschen, zarte Zwetschkenfrucht, ein Hauch von Vanille, kandierte Orangenzesten. Mittlerer Körper, rote Kirschen, präsente Tannine, frisch strukturiert, etwas Nougat im Abgang, hat einiges Potenzial.«

»Lots of red and black fruits, dried herbs, graphite, and a kiss of minerality emerge from the 2021 Château La Dominique, a downright pretty, elegant Saint-Emilion that comes from vines on the upper plateau, not far from the Pomerol border. Beautifully balanced, medium-bodied, and elegant on the palate, with quality tannins, it has lots of character and is going to drink brilliantly for 15+ years. This is an estate readers should have on their radar as the quality here continues to rise. Tasted twice.«

»The 2021 La Dominique is a soft, easygoing wine. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and sweet baking spices are pushed forward. The 2021 is not hte last word on complexity, but it offers plenty of near and medium term appeal. More importantly, the 2021 is not trying to be something it can't be, which was at times the issue here in the past.«

Vinous

2021 Château La Dominique

Château La Dominique

NachhaltigkeitBIO

»Blueberries, dark chocolate, lavender and sage aromas follow through to a medium body with polished and refined tannins that are integrated but give a sense of strength and muscular tone. Elegance with structure. Closed now, it needs time to soften. Exceptional for the vintage. Better after 2028.«

»The 2021 La Mondotte is marked by strong calcaire accents and a bit of oak tannin that has not yet fully integrated, as the colder cellar here (vis-a-vis Canon-La Gaffelière) results in wines in barrel that evolve at a slow pace. Like all of the Neipperg wines, La Mondotte shows terrific energy and drive. A burst of dark cherry fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and spice builds into the deep, resonant finish. There's a ton of character here. The purity of the flavors is striking. I am so looking forward to tasting the 2021 in bottle.«

»Unwinding in the glass with scents of cherry, sweet berries, dark chocolate and loamy soil, the 2021 La Mondotte is medium to full-bodied, lively and concentrated, with a compact, tightly wound profile, tangy acids and beautifully refined tannins. Of all the von Neipperg wines, this is the most reticent at this early stage, but all the components for a notable success are present.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Frische dunkle Waldbeeren, ein Hauch von Roten Johannisbeeren, feine Herzkirschen, kandierte Orangenzesten. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeerige Textur, feine, seidige Tannine, salzig im Abgang, ein Hauch von Ribiseln, delikater, leichtfüßig wirkender Stil.«

»The 2021 La Mondotte was cropped at 45hL/ha between 30 September and 6 October and matured in 50% new oak. Suave on the nose, it offers dark berry fruit, incense and subtle cassis scents, that are very well integrated. Much less powerful than the La Mondotte of old. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, juicy and ripe, well balanced with a silky smooth finish. Perhaps what is just missing is a little grip and density, but it is well-crafted and fresh as a daisy.«

2021 Château La Mondotte

Château La Mondotte

Verkehrsbezeichnung

»Composed of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot, harvested from the 18th of September to the 5th of October, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2019 Le Petit Mouton charges out of the glass with gregarious scents of baked black cherries, plum preserves and blackcurrant cordial followed by hints of cumin seed, candied violets and licorice with a waft of dried Provence herbs. Medium-bodied, the palate has a real skip in its step, offering fresh, cheery black berry flavors and a grainy texture, supported by oodles of freshness, finishing long with invigorating spice and herbal sparks.«

»A dense, creamy second wine of Mouton with blueberries and hints of chocolate and black olives. It’s full-bodied with round, ripe tannins and lots of pretty fruit. Love the integration of fruit and tannins. Intense and long. 68% cabernet sauvignon and 32% merlot.«

»A very moreish Petit Mouton with plump fruit and clear coffee and mocha beans - a signature of this wine and people who love its unashamed glamour will adore this vintage. It has welcome astringent tannins on the finish and overall this is delicious. There are not many 2nd wines that can truly stand on their own but this is very much one of them. Harvest September 18 to October 5. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038«

2019 Le Petit Mouton

Gesamtsäure

Lagerfähigkeit

Château Mouton Rothschild

»Very floral with black currant and black cherry aromas with hints of lavender. Floral. Medium-bodied with firm and silky tannins that show beautiful length and polish. Goes on for a long time for the vintage. Classy. Drink after 2026.«

»The 2021 Malescot St. Exupéry is another terrific wine from a property that has been trending towards finesse. The 2021 represents another step in that direction, helped by the vintage, of course. Red cherry, iron, blood orange, spice, tobacco and cedar build as this mid-weight, savory Margaux shows off its considerable charms. Pretty floral top notes accent the finish. Tasted two times.«

»The 2021 Malescot St. Exupery is a terrific effort, offering up aromas of sweet cassis and plums mingled with notions of licorice, espresso roast and toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's impressively layered, with a sweet core of fruit, ripe tannins and lively acids. The dramatic style of the château has worked very well with the cooler, later-maturing vintage. The blend is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.«

»Beautifully balanced, the 2021 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry is a classic, impressive 2021 that's worth seeking out. Darker fruits, spice, dried herbs, and a kiss of flowers all emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, has ripe tannins, and shows the pretty, graceful style of the vintage.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feines Brombeerkonfit, zart nach schwarzen Kirschen, ein Hauch von Edelholz, einladendes Bukett, tabakige Nuancen. Saftig, elegant, feine dunkle Beerenfrucht, gut integrierte Tannine, mineralisch, zeigt Länge, gutes Reifepotenzial.«

»The 2021 Malescot Saint Exupéry has quite a high-toned bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and violet aromas, exuberant compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity, quite focused yet there is just a little dryness and abruptness on the finish. That might be remedied during its élevage so let's see how this turns out. I was anticipating a bit more from this excellent Margaux estate, but maybe it will meliorate in barrel? Not beyond possibility.«

2021 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry

Château Malescot Saint Exupéry

»Lots of crunchy red cherries and blue plums followed by violets, fresh sage and Christmas spices with baking spice and coconuts. Medium- to full-bodied with superb fine-grained racy tannins and beautifully refreshing acidity that gives an edge to it. Gorgeous finesse and elegance with harmony and precision. Delightful, too. Already drinkable but give this a few more years to come around. Try after 2026 and it should be beautiful for a long time.«

»Der Canon ist erwartungsgemäß auch nach der Füllung einer der feinsten und differenziertesten Weine des Jahrgangs 2021 aus Saint-Émilion. Dunkler Farbkern, sehr viskos. Er verfügt über einefeine, zarte Nase mit großer Intensität im Hintergrund. Sehr guter Auftakt im Mund mit viel Fleisch und Rasse, sehr lang, engmaschig und komplex. Druckvoller Canon mit viel KalksteinTerroir und grandioser Finesse. Wie so typisch für Canon, wirkt er in diesem jugendlichen Stadium noch etwas verschlossen. Seine Frische und große Energie lassen jedoch einiges erwarten. «

»The 2021 Canon opens in the glass with a pure bouquet of raspberries, cherries and plums mingled with pretty top notes of iris, licorice, mint and sweet spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's fleshy and sensual, with a deep and seamless core of fruit framed by ultra-refined tannins, a bright spine of acidity and a long, mineral finish. With an impressively low finished pH of 3.37, it was taken out of barrel a month earlier than usual and saw no fining—as has been the case since 2010.«

»Dramatic, rich and imposing, the 2021 Canon is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Sculpted red purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, sage and crushed rocks all race out of the glass. A heady, vertical wine, Canon is endowed with tremendous concentration and class. The aromatics alone are beguiling, but it is the wine's balance that impresses most. Tasted three times. This is such an elegant and regal wine.«

»The 2021 Canon was picked September 16 to October 6 and matured in 50% new oak for a planned 16–18 months. Around 70% of the vineyard produced the normal yield, which underwent a 50% deselection, yet it still yielded 40hL/ha because the vines did not suffer stress. After mildew, any bunches that showed damage on the stems were removed. Nicolas Audebert told me that there was no concentration or saignée, just a little chaptalization (around 0.5–1.0%, depending on the tank). This has quite a concentrated bouquet of opulent dark cherries, blueberry, violet and just a hint of camphor. The palate is mediumbodied and pliant, with gentle grip, saturated tannins and a judicious touch of spice toward the compact finish. While recent top-flight vintages may well eclipse this Canon, it still stands as a fine addition to the recent roster.«

2021 Château Canon

»There’s so much graphite on the nose, with blackcurrants, blueberries and lots of red currants. Full- to medium-bodied with focused and poised fruit and tannins and a long, flavorful, silky finish. Drink after 2026.«

»Supple, ample and generous, this is a lovely Clos du Marquis with an intensity and liveliness straight away, the effects of strong selection giving this a concentrated core. Tannins are prominent but fine and velvety, coating the mouth in a chalky, dry texture but ripe not astringent. I love the fruit forwardness and intention here, but this also has tension and linearity, driving in one straight line from start to finish with a vein of minerality underneath - liquorice and graphite giving a saltiness on the tongue. Feels confident and sauve. A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 19% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc. Yield of 30hL/ha. 3.69pH. Ageing in 50% new barrels.«

»From bottle, the 2021 Clos du Marquis is just as impressive and serious as it was in cask. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackcurrants, lilac, burning embers and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a concentrated core of lively fruit, sweet but abundant tannins and a long, palate-staining finish.«

»The 2021 Clos du Marquis is a potent, heady wine. Blue fruits, lavender, licorice, pencil shavings and crushed rocks all race across the palate. This is classic Saint-Julien in bearing. A wine of substance and class, Clos du Marquis is quite impressive in this vintage, opening beautifully over time.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral, etwas Lakritze und Cassis, ein Hauch von Nougat und Orangenzesten, tabakige Würze im Hintergrund. Gute Komplexität, Brombeerfrucht, feine, reife Tannine, gute Frische, anhaftend, bereits gut entwickelt, ein mineralischer Speisenbegleiter.«

»A beautiful Saint-Julien, the 2021 Clos Du Marquis reveals a healthy ruby/plum hue as well as incredibly pure notes of darker berries, graphite, spice box, and a kiss of leafy tobacco. This medium-bodied, focused, nicely concentrated 2021 has ripe, polished tannins, terrific balance, and the overall class to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. It's a beautiful wine that I'd happy to have in the cellar.«

»The 2021 Clos du Marquis has a very expressive and open bouquet at the moment, displaying lavish red fruit, crushed violet, peppermint and cassis scents that veer quite closely to Pauillac in style, though there is less of the graphite element that I commented upon out of barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with juicy red fruit, quite voluminous for this vintage, revealing an infusion of licorice toward the finish with white pepper and clove on the aftertaste. Afford this four or five years in bottle.«

2021 Clos du Marquis

Château Léoville Las Cases

»Der RauzanSégla 2021 hat eine dunkle, satte Farbe. Erzeigt eine überschwänglich offensive, satteund reichhaltige Frucht in der Nase. Obwohl er noch sehr jugendlich und verschlossen wirkt, ist er sehr delikat und finessenreich. Saftiger Auftakt im Mund, hier ist er außerordentlich konzentriert und klar strukturiert, mit extrem feinen Gerbstoffen, die mit viel Schmelz und Charakter ausgestattet sind. Ein großer differenzierter, feiner Margaux mit ewig langem Nachhall. Verführerisch und delikat, wie man es von diesem ausgezeichnet authentischen Margaux auch erwarten darf.«

»The 2021 Rauzan-Ségla is impressive. Dark, somber and brooding, the 2021 offers up a heady concoction of black cherry, plum, graphite, new leather, scorched earth, game and tar, all amplified in a dramatic, super-classic Margaux. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. I loved this en primeur, and I love it just as much today. Èlevage made all the difference here. Tasted three times.«

»The 2021 Rauzan-Ségla has a beautifully defined bouquet that soars from the glass with blackberry, raspberry coulis, hints of iodine and crushed iris flower aromas. The new oak (60%) is seamlessly integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins and perfectly judged acidity, silky yet with sufficient tension and sapidtiy on the edgy finish to beckon you back for another sip. This is a splendid Rauzan-Ségla that I suspect will mature in bottle for longer than you might expect.«

»Black berry, black cherry and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, with chewy tannins that are polished and fresh. Linear and racy at the end. A crisp and solid young Bordeaux. Give this three or four years to come around. Best after 2027.«

»One of the best in the vintage, the 2021 Château Rauzan-Ségla has beautiful cassis and red currant-like fruit that gives way to notes of tobacco, cedar pencil, and hints of flowers. It's medium-bodied, has a supple, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous 2021 that has an almost Château Lafite-like sense of balance and elegance. Readers will love drinking bottles over the coming 15-20 years. The 2021 is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, hitting 13.5% natural alcohol (pH 3.72), which was brought up in 60% new French oak.«

»The 2021 Rauzan-Ségla has turned out very nicely, offering up aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with subtle notions of baking chocolate, mint, pencil lead and vanilla pod. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and suave, with a seamless core of fruit that's framed by polished tannins and bright but nicely integrated acids, it concludes with a long, delicately mordant finish.«

2021 Château Rauzan-Segla

Château Rauzan-Segla

»The 2021 Giscours is not quite as showy as some recent vintages, but all the ingredients are there. Aromatic, deep and layered, with tremendous balance, the 2021 has so much to offer. Rose petal, mint, spice, orange peel and dried herbs are some of the notes that build. The 2021 is a wine of exquisite precision - bright and driving, with notable tension. It is seriously impressive at this stage.«

»Outstanding for the vintage, this wine has true precision and beauty. Medium body, with flavors of currant and chocolate as well as some sandalwood and spice. Nicely balanced. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% petit verdot. Drink or hold.«

»Dark spice aromas are here, along with rich tannins and structure, just hinting at the wood aging. The wine, from the south of the appellation, has a rich effect, while also having the Margaux elegance. It is beautifully finished.«

Wine Enthusiast

»The 2021 Giscours has turned out beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries and licorice mingled with hints of violet and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and suave, it's seamless and enveloping, with good depth at the core, beautifully polished tannins and a long, perfumed finish. This is one of the real successes of the vintage. As readers may remember, it's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.«

»Slightly closed and inward aromatically, the 2021 Château Giscours nevertheless shines for its depth, balance, and elegance on the palate. Ripe red and black fruits, graphite, and hints of tobacco slowly open up in the glass, and this hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, good mid-palate depth and concentration, and enough tannins to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. This is one 2021 that should still be drinking nicely at age 20.«

»The 2021 Giscours has a powerful bouquet, more-so than many of its Margaux peers: blackberry, blueberry and raspberry fruit, hints of iris flower and cedar. This is a Margaux that wants to make its presence felt despite the limitations of the season. The palate is medium-bodied with a strong marine/seaweed influence on the entry, sapid and almost briny (which I like), demonstrating fine cohesion and plenty of freshness toward the finish. It lacks a bit of sustain, but otherwise, this is a commendable showing.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Reife schwarze Waldbeeren, feine Edelholzwürze, Orangenzesten, facettenreiches Bukett. Mittlere Komplexität, würzige Textur, integrierte Tannine, frisch strukturiert, ein Hauch von Brett im Nachhall, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter mit Reifepotenzial.«

2021 Château Giscours

Château Giscours

»The 2021 Le Petit Lion is a fine second wine. It offers terrific energy in a soft, approachable style that will offer plenty of enjoyment over the next 15-20 years. Crushed flowers, spice, red cherry fruit, mint and white pepper lend brilliance. The 2021 is an articulate, reserved Petit Lion. This is very nicely done.«

»The aromas of blackcurrants, violets and graphite are impressive. Some white pepper and stone undertones. Medium-bodied with firm and juicy tannins. Shows linear intensity and energy. 57% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 3% cabernet franc. Give this two or three years to come around. Best after 2028.«

»The 2021 Le Petit Lion has a very attractive bouquet that, compared to the preceding Potensac, has much more vigor and clarity: blackberry, raspberry, crushed rock and light graphite aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth texture, black olive and mulberry combining nicely toward a sapid finish that just needs a bit more refinement. A little chewy in texture, it could use another two years in bottle.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Kräuterwürze, schwarze Beeren, dunkle Kirschen, zart nach Nougat. Straff, engmaschig, rotbeerig, reife Tannine, mineralisch und zugänglich, Brombeeren im Nachhall.«

»Readers looking for a more approachable version of the Grand Vin will love the 2021 Le Petit Lion, a pretty, medium-bodied, elegant Saint-Julien. Cassis and raspberry fruits, some graphite and spicy, floral notes, nicely integrated acidity, and a focused, linear, seamless mouthfeel all make for an already delicious, classy second wine that will drink nicely over the coming 10-12 years. The blend is 57% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc.«

2021 Le Petit Lion

»A Saint-Éstephe of statue and vertical intensity, the 2021 Calon Ségur dazzles from the very first state. Spice, menthol, licorice, black cherry, mint and espresso are some of the many notes that build with a bit of coaxing. The 2021 clocks in at a modest 12.9% in alcohol, yet it possesses tremendous density and textural resonance. What a wine! Tasted two times.«

»In the winery's style, this is seriously dense with solid tannins and concentration. It is a powerful wine with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that has structure and dense black fruits, The wine is likely to age well. Drink from 2028.«

»The 2021 Calon Ségur was cropped at 36hL/ha and aged entirely in new oak for a planned 20 months. This year, the gap between the Grand Vin and the Marquis is blatantly obvious, to the extent that they are practically different wines, which is how Vincent Millet and his team treat them. The Cabernet is firmly in the driving seat here, with detailed, graphite-infused black fruit and a background florality that comes through with aeration. The medium-bodied palate displays very fine tannins, superb acidity (pH 3.65) and impressive harmony. This has exemplary build in the mouth, fine weight on the finish and a persistent aftertaste. An outstanding Calon-Ségur, elevated by the risks taken in de-leafing in June and waiting to pick. Bravo. 12.9% alcohol«

»Revisited in bottle, the 2021 Calon-Ségur opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries mingled with aromas of violets, pencil shavings, lilac, Indian spices, cigar wrapper and grilled meats. Medium to full-bodied, dense and suave, with powdery tannins, lively acids and a penetratingly sapid and discreetly carnal finish, it appears to have lost a touch of aromatic precision during élevage, but it remains a compelling Calon-Ségur.«

»A juicy and caressingly astringent red with currant, berry and cedar aromas with citrus undertones. Medium body. Firm and silky with a delicious finish. A little tight at the end. Two or three years will open it up.«

2021 Château Calon Ségur

»This wine has a tightness and linear energy, with red currants, herbs, plums and hints of dark chocolate. Medium-bodied with beautiful integration and length. Racy and focused. Just the right amount of wood and fruit with tannins. Second wine of Chateau Margaux. 73% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 4% cabernet franc.«

»Mostly likely the second wine of the vintage, the 2021 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as beautiful aromatics of red and blue fruits, smoke tobacco, violets, and graphite. It's medium-bodied, has remarkable purity, integrated acidity, and one heck of a beautiful finish. You can taste more than a little Grand Vin in this, yet it clearly has more up-front charm and appeal. A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it benefits from air and should be at its best from 2029-2041.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Kräuterwürze, rote Kirschen, etwas Lakritze und Orangenzesten, facettenreiches Bukett. Saftig, elegant, reife Herzkirschen, frisch strukturiert, feine Tannine, kalkig-mineralisch im Abgang, ein finessenreicher Speisenbegleiter mit Reifepotenzial.«

»The 2021 Pavillon Rouge offers up aromas of raspberries, sweet cherries and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively palate that's quite taut and youthfully structured out of the gates, with good depth at the core and powdery tannins. It will reward a bit of bottle age.«

»The 2021 Pavillon Rouge is bright and beautifully focused. A slender, vibrant Pavillon Rouge, the 2021 impresses with energy more than volume. Bright  acids lift a core of red plum fruit, blood orange, cinnamon and rose petal. Saline notes extend the finish. Today, the 2021 is a bit clenched, but that should not be an issue in a few years' time.«

»The 2021 Pavillon Rouge showed well from barrel. Now, in bottle since late June, it has a gorgeous, very pure, almost Burgundy-like bouquet that blossoms in the glass: raspberry, blackberry and crushed violet scents. The palate is medium-bodied with very succulent tannins, fine acidity, gentle grip and a disarmingly minerally, fresh finish. What a delightful Pavillon.«

2021 Pavillon Rouge

Château Margaux

»Rich and deeply fruity aromas with oaky spices like vanilla and oatmeal to accompany the wealth of lemon, apple and pear fruit. Some ginger and parsnip adding complexity. Multi-layered in the mouth with a texture simultaneously creamy and olive oil-like. Flavours of Williams pear, ripe apple and ginger. Long and super-concentrated finish. A terrific wine which shows the excellent quality of the vintage for the whites.«

Tim Atkin

»48 % Merlot, 46 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 % Cabernet Franc, 13,5 Vol.-%. Komplexes Bouquet mit Herzkirsche, edler Cassiswürze und exotischen Hölzern, dahinter getrocknete Rosenblätter und heller Tabak. Am dichten Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle, bleibt schlank wie ein Pfeil, vibrierende Rasse, die den mittleren Körper perfekt stützt. Im konzentrierten Finale Wildkirsche, Schlehensaft und mehlige Adstringenz.«

»Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with loamy soil, sweet spices, cigar box and licorice, the 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion is full-bodied, lively and seamless, with a deep, concentrated core of fruit framed by bright acids and supple, powdery tannins. This charming, sensual rendition of La Mission is a blend of 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, attaining 13.4% alcohol.«

»The 2021 Château La Mission Haut-Brion checks in as a blend of 47.9% Merlot, 45.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc that hit 13.4% alcohol and is still resting in 27% new French oak. Graphite, scorched earth, tobacco leaf, and gorgeous cassis and violet-tinge blue fruits all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a vibrant, elegant mouthfeel, terrific tannins, and one hell of a great finish. It's a softer, rounder, more layered wine than the Haut-Brion, with a little more sexiness, yet both are utterly brilliant wines.«

»Lots of sea-salt, iodine and purple-fruit aromas and flavors to this. Turns to bark and forest floor. Powerful. Full-bodied and muscular. 47.9% merlot, 45.8% cabernet sauvignon and 6.3% cabernet franc.«

»The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion offers lovely aromatic presence and fine balance, albeit in the smaller-scaled style of the year. Dried herbs, mint, sweet red cherry, incense and blood orange all run through the 2021. This is a decidedly understated edition of La Mission. It will be interesting to see if elevage adds body.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Farbkern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Schwarze Beerenfrucht, dunkle Kirschen, tabakige Würze, zart nach Lakritze, mineralischer Touch. Saftige Kirschfrucht, ein Hauch von Pflaumen, präsente Tannine, salzige Mineralik, frisch und gut anhaftend, verfügt über Entwicklungspotenzial.«

»Rose, violets and peonies on the nose, with dark chocolate and cassis, smells like liqueur chocolates, perfumed and aromatic. A crystalline quality to the fruit, so driven and pure on the palate. Energetic and lively filled with strawberry, raspberry, red cherry and plum - direct with a vein of exotic spice - cinnamon and clove, as well as touches of orange, bitter grapefruit, dark chocolate and crushed stone. Such a lot going on here, but so well delivered with intensity and direction with racy acidity that keeps everything lifted the whole way through. Lovely minerality on the tongue, the graphite lingering with the juiciness that is still so mouthwatering even on the finish. Compelling and charming.«

»The 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion is blessed with an ethereal bouquet, subtle touches of wilted iris petal and truffle infuse the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins, perfectly judged acidity, quite compact on the mid-palate with linear and correct finish. Not the most charming La Mission Haut-Brion. You could argue that it is slightly "aloof", yet intuition tells me it has something up its sleeve for later on. Patience necessary.«

2021 Château La Mission Haut Brion

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

»This is really polished and beautiful with very fine tannins that caress your palate. Medium body. Refined. Currant, chocolate, hazelnut and black walnut. Some mushroom. Very complex and subtle. Drinkable now but better in a couple of years.«

»Concentrated and intense nose with subtle violet and perfume flecks. Quite chewy and grippy on the palate, this has more of a chunky frame than many others with mouthwatering acidity, plush tannins and a good dose of strawberry, blackcurrant and black cherry fruit edged by eucalyptus and liquorice. You get the liveliness but also the density and the gentle power and I love the minerality at the end, a touch of salinity as well as cedar, clove, bitter dark chocolate and slate. You've got a lot going on with this wine and it's one of the more confident wines from the Bernard Magrez stable in the vintage. This could be very excellent. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Tasted twice.«

»The 2021 Pape Clément is a very elegant, polished wine. Crushed flowers, red cherry fruit, blood orange, menthol and spice all grace this wonderfully layered, expressive vintage of Pape Clément. Pretty floral top notes add freshness and vivacity. The more laid-back house style these days is so appealing.«

»Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholzwürze, rote Waldbeeren, ein Hauch von Cassis, Orangenzesten, facettenreiches Bukett. Saftig, dunkle Kirschen, reife Tannine, etwas Nougat, frisch und lebendig, stoffig im Abgang, mit Entwicklungspotenzial ausgestattet.«

»The 2021 Château Pape Clément checks in as a blend of 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, and splashes of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that was brought up in barrels and tuns. Its deeper ruby/plum hue is followed by a beautifully layered, round, medium-bodied Péssac offering ripe black cherry and currant-driven fruit, some textbook scorched earth and tobacco notes, a round, layered, expansive mouthfeel, and ripe yet integrated tannins. It's one of the gems from Péssac that will shine for 15 years.«

»The 2021 Pape Clément, which was 90% aged in barrel (two-thirds new), 10% in foudres, was quite a different kettle of fish when I tasted it en primeur, much more classical in style compared to recent vintages. Now in bottle, there is a gulf in quality between this and the Deuxième Vin on the nose - far more fruit, mulberry and raspberry, light cedar and humidor scents and just a touch of lavender. The palate is medium-bodied with firm but not obtrusive tannins. There is but a fraction of the fruit compared to the 2019 or 2020, yet it retains balance and there is an attractive sapidity toward the finish. This is one of those wines that will never reach great heights but will give pleasure over the next 15 or 20 years.«

2021 Château Pape Clément

»A bright, vibrant nose full of minerals and fresh red cherries, olives and a hint of pencil shavings. The silky tannins are fresh and tidy, with spot-on succulence, finesse and linearity. Svelte and long. The tannin quality deserves recognition. Drink or hold.«

»Cigar box, tobacco, cedar and cinnamon - really gorgeous savoury tones with smoked earth and dark chocolate mingling with the black fruits. High acid, touching on sharp and slightly sherbety but there is a lovely chew to the fruits, mouthfilling, mouthwatering and appealing with the freshness from the higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Smooth and delicate with a layer of seduction in the richness of the fruit and the overall depth. Wide flavours in the mouth, expansive and open with bright strawberry and red cherry juice at the end, so sweet and succulent and moreish. Not so exuberant but full of easy enjoyment, a successful second wine in 2021.«

»Black raspberries, redcurrants, tobacco, and floral/violet notes all emerge from the 2021 Château Malartic-Lagravière, a medium-bodied, supple, incredibly elegant 2021 with fine tannins. This layered, elegant Péssac-Léognan will surprise in the cellar due to its overall balance. The 2021 is 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, and it saw a slightly shorter maceration than normal (21 days) and was brought up in 65% new oak.«

»The 2021 Malartic Lagravière, which has a little more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, has an attractive bouquet - not amazingly intense, yet delineated with predominantly black fruit, black olive and light estuarine scents. It feels focused, though without the frills. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of orange rind on the entry. Finely integrated oak here lends this Pessac-Léognan an appealing silky texture, and it fans out gracefully toward the finish. This feels like it has evolved nicely during its barrel maturation, and it should drink well for 20 to 25 years.«

»The 2021 Malartic Lagravière has come together well with élevage. It remains a bit one-dimensional, but it is a solid effort for the year. It would be nice to see more depth and overall energy, but this is 2021. This just lacks excitement. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, spice and leather struggle to emerge.«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart tabakig, schwarze Beeren, dunkle Kirschen, ein Hauch von Preiselbeeren und Orangenzesten. Saftig, elegant, frische Kirschen, dezente Süße, reife Tannine, ausgewogen und lebendig, etwas Nougat im Nachhall, vielseitig einsetzbar.«

2021 Château Malartic-Lagravières Rouge

Château Malartic-Lagravières Rouge

»The 2021 Haut-Brion confirms its fine showing en primeur, cementing its status as one of the wines of the vintage. Its complex bouquet of dark berries and cassis mingled with notions of cigar wrapper and burning embers unfurls in the glass. Full-bodied, deep and velvety, it’s concentrated and layered with a multidimensional core of fruit, sweet tannins and lively acids, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. Reflecting the timeless elegance of Haut-Brions from cooler years, the 2021 will delight Bordeaux purists.«

»50 % Merlot, 38 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 % Cabernet Franc, 13,8 Vol.-%, 48 hl/ha. Dicht verwobenes Bouquet mit frisch gepflückter schwarzer Johannisbeere, Olivenpaste und dunklem Edelholz. Im zweiten Ansatz Sommertrüffel, Palisander und Burleytabak. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, kakaoartigem Tannin, zarte Muskeln spürbar, ungemein tiefgründig mit perfekt geformtem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale kleine schwarze Beeren, schwarze Johannisbeerpastillen und erhabene Adstringenz mit ganz kleinen (körnigen) Ecken. Perfekt dem Jahrgang angepasst, erinnert (wegen des tieferen Alkohols) an 1990 mit mehr Präzision im Weinberg, ganz klar Klassenprimus aus Pessac!«

»Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Farbkern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Einladender Duft nach feinem Cassis und schwarzen Kirschen, ein Hauch von Edelholz, zarter Nougatanklang. Gute Komplexität, dunkle Waldbeeren, feine Fruchtsüße, reife, gut integrierte Tannine, elegant und mit guter Länge ausgestattet, finessenreich und frisch, sehr zugänglich, ein toller Speisenbegleiter.«

»One of the absolute stand out wines on 2021 with an electric appeal almost unrivalled in the vintage. Blackcurrant leaf, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, rose petals, sweet cherries and bramble fruits on the nose. Incredibly lively and energetic on the palate with a burst of sharp, sweet and sour fruits that just fills the mouth coated by chalk, slate and pencil lead mineral tannins that give a intensity while the fruit persistency lingers above and through to the long finish. Such delicacy yet multi-layered and full of concentration, clear ripeness and power, though delivered with suaveness and style. Tannins are firm and robust, mouthfilling, no doubt about that, but they give the structure and frame to the plush and plump fruit which also has such a crystalline purity to it. I love the intensity and also these spicy bitter dark chocolate and liquorice elements on the finish which give nuance.«

»The 2021 Haut-Brion is an excellent wine. Despite its mid-weight structure, the 2021 possesses notable dynamic energy and layers of complexity that build with time in the glass. Scorched earth, leather, tobacco, incense, licorice and dried herbs are some of the many notes that open with aeration. The 2021 is a quiet, understated Haut-Brion, but all its signatures are present. Today, the it is not quite as showy as it was en primeur, but it is a finde effort nonetheless.«

»The 2021 Haut-Brion has a very pure bouquet, quite complex with a mixture of blueberry and black cherry fruit, iris flower and violet, hints of sea spray in the background. This is more engaging than the 2021 La Mission Haut-Brion at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, good fruit concentration considering the vintage, commendable salinity and a harmonious, sapid finish that is classic in style. I suspect this may well close down for a period of time before re-opening. Excellent.«

» Deep rich cocoa and coffee aromas from oak with fresh mint and cassis. Very concentrated as usual, with violet, clove and some chalkiness. Deep and invitingly complex. Very concentrated and deep palate with layers of palate coating black fruits and spices, some liquorice, clove, star anise and cinnamon augmenting the cassis and mûre. The acidity is fresh without being too much and the tannins are very fine indeed. A superstar wine of great poise and class, this year it seems that Haut-Brion has edged over La Mission.«

2021 Château Haut-Brion

Château Haut-Brion

»This wine is very fragrant, with blackberries, blueberries, black olives, bark and forest floor as well as some minerals and stone. Medium-bodied with racy and firm tannins that build to a fresh and steely finish. Needs three to five years to soften. You can almost taste the skins. Reminiscent of the 1995 Palmer but with more precision. 56% merlot, 41% cabernet sauvignon and 3% petit verdot. Best after 2028.«

»The 2021 Palmer has turned out beautifully in bottle, wafting from the glass with expressive aromas of blackberries, cherries and mulberries mingled with notions of iris, dark chocolate and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with an enveloping core of succulent fruit framed by rich, sweet tannins, it concludes with a long, expansive finish. It's a blend of 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot.«

Neal Martin

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