2021 Pessac Leognan is one of the more difficult as well as interesting appellations to handicap this year. The red wines are mixed, with some much better than expected results. But the white Bordeaux wine is just incredible. This is because overall, Bordeaux is often just a little bit too warm for white wine grapes, and just a little cool for the red wine grapes. With 2021 Pessac Leognan, conditions were perfect, allowing growers to produce vivid, pure, clean, crisp, piquant white wines. In fact, as you can see from my tasting notes below, the wine to receive 100 Pts this year is a white wine!
2021 Pessac Leogonan red wines can be very good indeed. But they are not at the level of the recent trio of soon-to-be-legendary vintages, 2018, 2019, and 2020. But in the years to come, (Probably not too far from now, as this is a precocious vintage) 2021 Pessac Leognan wines will offer fabulous, classically styled, fresh, bright, crisp, earthy, tobacco-stained, savory, vibrant, and low alcohol tasting experiences.
2021 Pessac Leognan, due to its naturally slightly warmer terroir and a large percentage of Merlot in the blends is often higher in alcohol than the other major, Bordeaux appellations. But that is not the case in 2021, as alcohol levels are 1 to almost 2% lower than in many of the recent, warmer years, and this is going to make some tasters quite happy.
Vignerons used chaptalization to increase the sugar levels by .5 to 1% for a portion of their harvest. To increase the density, several producers used the saignée technique of bleeding vats to increase the concentration in the wines as well as reverse osmosis. For an overview of the entire Bordeaux region in 2021, please read 2021 Bordeaux Complete Guide to the Vintage
2021 Pessac Leognan Growing Season and Harvest Report
2021 Pessac Leognan was a vintage with continuous challenges. The winter was wet and reasonably warm, so the vines were a bit advanced. So when the appellation was struck by the devastating frosts, (when the temperatures dropped as low as -5 degrees Celsius,) multiple times in April and May, many vineyards suffered some crop losses, especially in the Graves and in neighboring Sauternes.
Along with frosts, at times the rains were seemingly non-stop. Overall, conditions improved, and close to the end of May, flowering began to appear. Just when things looked like they might improve, a series of early-summer storms drenched the region, and the vineyards needed to contend with a strong and fast outbreak of downy mildew. The summer continued with its cool, wet weather and lack of sunshine. But by the end of August, the weather took turned around with the warm, sun of an Indian Summer and the vintage was saved.
Harvesting began of the white wine grapes between the end of August and early September. Picking of the red wine grapes began in early October, finishing in most cases, by the middle of October in moderately warm, sunny, and windy conditions. The breezes helped dry the vineyard and reduce the risk of disease. For a more detailed report on the weather that shaped the vintage: 2021 Bordeaux Growing Season and Harvest Report
All of the following 2021 Pessac Leognan Red and White Wines in this report were tasted in Bordeaux in April in non-blind conditions.
2021 Bel Air Eiffel – Graves de Vayres – The debut vintage for Jean-Philippe Janoueix, right off the bat you find a wine that delivers flowers, cedar, tobacco leaf, red fruits, and thyme on the nose and on the medium-bodied, palate, The wine is soft, clean, pure, light, fresh and refreshing with a red plum and strawberry fruit character from start to finish. An interesting historical note, the vineyard is owned by a descendant of Gustave Eiffel, who designed the Eiffel tower. You will want to drink this on the young side. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% ABV. Drink from 2022-2028. 87-89 Pts
2021 Bouscaut – Pessac-Léognan – Leafy herbs, tobacco leaf, black raspberries, and red plums on the nose. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is fresh, bright and a bit light, with a soft, vibrant, soft, olive-tinted, red cherry finish. Drink from 2023-2033. 89-91 Pts
2021 Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Bright, fresh and floral, this is like biting into a crisp Granny Smith apple with just squeezed lemons, lime, and pomelo. The elegant, fresh, sweet, citrus in the finish lingers. Drink from 2023-2033. 91-93 Pts
2021 Bouscaut Les Chenes Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – The green apples, flowers, and grapefruit are crisp, bright, fresh, juicy, and ready to go. This is perfect for enjoyment over the near term. Drink from 2023-2026. 87-87 Pts
2021 Brown – Pessac-Léognan – Cigar wrapper, tobacco leaf, smoke, spice, and currant aromatics show with ease. Medium-bodied, soft, forward, fresh, and sweet, with soft tannins, ripe, red berries, and a nice polish to the finish. The wine blends 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2023-2037. 89-91 Pts
2021 Brown Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemon rind, yellow tropical fruits, mango, tangerine, and honeysuckle get your attention on the nose, while the fresh, bright, lemons, green apples, and touches of orange seal the deal on the bright, crisp palate. Drink from 2023-2030. 92-92 Pts
2021 Cantelys Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Crisp, vibrant, juicy, fresh, lemons and just squeezed grapefruit notes are all over the place here in the nose and in the lively, racy palate. This is a well-priced, white Bordeaux that really hits the spot. The wine blends 50% Sauvignon Blanc with 50% Semillon. Drink from 2023-2029. 91-91 Pts
2021 Carbonnieux – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, tobacco leaf, lead pencil, herbs, currants, and plums create the bouquet. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, bright, crisp, and savory, the wine finishes with spicy currants and a touch of cigar wrapper in the endnote. The wine blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2024-2037. 90-92 Pts
2021 Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemon, lime, flowers, green apples, and a hint of white peach on the backend with loads of racy-acidity and crisp, sweet, yellow citrus in the creamy finish. Drink from 2023-2031 92-92 Pts
2021 Carbonnieux La Croix de Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Vibrant, fresh, juicy, and crisp, steely yellow citrus with a touch of mint in the mid-palate and in the finish is perfect for short term enjoyment. Drink from 2023-2026. 87-87 Pts
2021 Les Carmes HautBrion – Pessac-Léognan – Garnet in color, the wine opens with tobacco leaf, cigar box, thyme, herbs, flowers, espresso, and red berries. Medium/full-bodied, vibrant, fresh, and focused on its purity of fruit as well as its elegance. This sublime wine is silky and sensuous. This finish is long and refined, with sweet, ripe cherries, dark cocoa, spice, herbs, a drop of citrus, and cigar wrapper with a cool touch of salt and crushed rock that come out in the endnotes. The wine was made using 45% whole bunch clusters during fermentation. From a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, 13.5% ABV, pH 3.6. The wine is aging in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 20% foudres, and 10% amphora. Drink from 2025-2050. 94-96 Pts
2021 Le C des Carmes HautBrion – Pessac-Léognan – Bright red fruits, spearmint, leafy tobacco, and spice create the nose. Medium-bodied, fresh, crisp, energetic, and vibrant, the bright red fruits in the finish are accented with a touch of salt in the endnote. Using 20% whole bunches in the vinification, the wine blends 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV. The wine is aged in 20% new, French oak barrels. Drink from 2023-2033. 90-92 Pts
2021 Chantegrive – Graves – Forward, medium-bodied, polished, soft, and loaded with sweet, red cherries, kirsch, and a hint of cigar box notes, this easy-to-like charmer is ready to go on release. Drink from 2023-2031. 88-90 Pts
2021 Chantegrive Caroline – Graves – Bright, crisp, fresh, just squeezed lemons and grapefruit are made even better with all the sweet honeysuckle. This vibrant, citrus-filled charmer is ready to go and would be a perfect summer white wine. Drink from 2023-2030. 91 Pts
2021 Clauzots Blanc – Graves – White peach, flowers, green apples, and lemon peel with an accent of honeysuckle on the nose and palate, already display their charms with ease. Drink from 2023-2026. 87 Pts
2021 Clos Marsalette – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, sweet, ripe, red fruits with tobacco leaf on the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and vibrant, with a crisp, chewy edge and a touch of salinity and cocoa in the finish. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2023-2034. 89-91 Pts
2021 Clos Marsalette Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, orange rind, green apple, honeysuckle, and lemons already express their character in the perfume and on the fresh, creamy, yellow, citrus-filled palate. The wine blends 60% Sauvignon Blanc with 40% Semillon. Drink from 2023-2028. 92-92 Pts
2021 Couhins – Pessac-Léognan – Blackberries, plums, tobacco and smoke are what you initially notice before moving on to the soft, dark, spiced, round, chalky, red, pit-fruit filled palate. Drink from 2023-2033. 89-91 Pts
2021 Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, yellow citrus, pineapple, mango with just a touch of white peach in the background of the nose and palate. Balanced between its racy freshness and creamy textures, this is a contender for the best white produced in the history of Couhins. Drink from 2023-2032. 93-93 Pts
2021 Couhins La Dame de Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Bitingly fresh, lemon rind, grapefruit, and almost ripe, but not quite, green apples. Drink this over the new few years for its crispness. Drink from 2023-2026. 89-89 Pts
2021 Couhins Lurton – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, tobacco leaf, spearmint, currants, and plums are in the nose and on the palate. The wine is fresh, medium-bodied, and with a crisp edge to the mildly, cocoa-tinted, energetic, red fruits in the finish. Drink from 2023-2034. 90-92 Pts
2021 Couhins-Lurton Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pomelo, lemon, lime, green apples, and hints of spice are all over the place here. Ripe, fresh, sweet, crisp, and creamy, this is already just great to enjoy. Drink from 2023-2032. 93-93 Pts
2021 Domaine de Chevalier – Pessac-Léognan – Deeply colored, initially you find flowers, black and dark red pit fruits, Indian spice, black pepper, cassis, and black currants on the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, sweet, fresh, and round, as well as a bit chewy, with loads of ripe berries accented with espresso and cocoa in the endnote. The wine blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc, making this one of the highest percentages of Cabernet even used in the blend here. 13.% ABV. The harvest took place September 28 – October 15. Yields were low at only 30 hectoliters per hectare. This is the first vintage that was produced being 100% biodynamic in the vineyards. Drink from 2025-2048. 93-95 Pts
2021 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White flowers, honeysuckle, lemon rind, pineapple, spice, and vanilla aromatics motivate you to want to know more. On the palate, the wine is perfectly balanced between its lush, creamy character and blazing acidity. The fruit shows a gorgeous purity and the seamless finish builds, expands, and lingers. Clearly, this is a contender for one of the best, if not the best vintage of Domaine de Chevalier Blanc ever produced! Drink this young for its youthful exuberance, or age it for more secondary development. The wine blends 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon, 13.5% ABV. The harvest took place September 13-September 24. Drink from 2023-2050. 98-98 Pts
2021 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemon, lime, green apples, honeysuckle, pomelo, and flowers open the nose. Creamy, fresh, vibrant, and packed with sweet, yellow citrus, the wine is crisp, fresh, and juicy on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2023-2031. 92-92 Pts
2021 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Cigar wrapper, spice, forest floor, plums, and the essence of smoke are found in the nose and in the medium-bodied, bright, fresh, red berry oriented palate. There is a nice crisp accent with hints of pepper and salinity on the mid-palate that you also enjoy in the finish. Drink from 2023-2029. 88-90 Pts
2021 Ferrande – Graves – Dusty plums, dried flowers, and cherries, with a touch of cocoa create the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, round, and already approachable, the wine has nice textures, along with sweetness to the fruit, but the red berry finish is just a bit short. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2023-2030. 88-90 Pts
2021 Ferrande Blanc – Graves – Bright, crisp, fresh, and focused on its pomelo and lemon pith character, drink this on the young side to get as much of its sweet, ripe, citrus, and racy acidity as possible. Drink from 2023-2027. 90-90 Pts
2021 de Fieuzal – Pessac-Léognan – Espresso, dark cherries, smoke, and plums shine through on the nose. Soft, lush, rich, and fruity, with sweetness, length, and a supple-textured, fresh, vibrant, ripe, earthy finish. This is already quite charming. But it also has the ability to age and evolve for 12-15 years. Drink from 2024-2037. 91-93 Pts
2021 de Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, yellow citrus, grapefruit, lemon rind, and honeysuckle, with a hint of orange tropical fruit in the background, get the perfume started. The wine is sweet, juicy, vibrant, and fresh on the palate, finishing with a touch of salt in the energetic, fruit-filled endnote. Drink from 2023-2032. 93-93 Pts
2021 de-France – Pessac-Léognan – With incense, forest leaf, espresso, and currants on the palate, the wine is quite oaky on the palate, which hides much of the fruit. With aging, this could improve, and the score the increase. Time will tell. Drink from 2024-2037. 88-90 Pts
2021 de-France Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, crisp, bright yellow citrus with a hint of orange tropical fruits in the nose and on the vibrant, creamy finish. This is ready-to-go on release. Drink from 2023-2029. 90-90 Pts
2021 Haut Bailly – Pessac-Léognan – Initially you notice the blackberries, black plums, and black currants before moving on to the tobacco, flowers, spice, and smoke in the aromatic profile. Supple, refined, and elegant, perhaps the best way to describe the wine is modern chic, or modern classic if you prefer. The tannins are soft and polished, and the fruit is pure, clean, and fresh, with a salty, mildly-chalky, supple endnote. Although it is going to probably always be a bit reticent in character, you will be able to approach and enjoy this wine in its youth, as well as age it for more complexity. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The blend represents the highest percentage of Petit Verdot in the history of the estate. 13% ABV, pH 3.9. The harvest took place September 27 to October 11. The Grand Vin was produced from 50% of the harvest. 2021 is the first vintage produced in their new, state-of-the-art cellars. Drink from 2025-2055. 94-96 Pts
2021 Haut Bailly II – Pessac-Léognan – Tobacco leaf, smoke, spice, plums, currants, and a touch of coffee bean on the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, round, fresh, lifted, and focused on its elegant, tobacco-tinted, black currants, plums, spice, and cigar wrapper notes. This is perfect to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. Drink from 2023-2033. 90-92 Pts
2021 Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, tobacco wrapper, chocolate, burning wood, ash, cigar box, currants, black cherries, and spice. On the palate, the wine is fresh, bright, vibrant, lifted, and floral. The wine is elevated, refined, soft, and silky with a refreshing, silky edge to the fruits in the finish. There is richness and waves of fruit on the palate, but the waves are small and continuous. This is a good example of a modern classic Haut-Brion. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc, 13.85% ABV. Harvesting took place September 13, finishing October 8, making this one of the longest harvest periods for Haut Brion. 48 hectoliters per hectare, with 43% of the harvest placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2027-2060. 95-97 Pts
2021 Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Explosive aromas of white flowers, honeysuckle, pineapple, lemon curd, grapefruit rind, orange blossoms, and Pippin apples. Rich, opulent, creamy, and fresh with non-stop layers of white peach, lemon, and green apples that accompany the gorgeous salinity in the crisp, racy finish that crosses the 60 sixty mark and keeps on going. This is a wow white wine that competes with top vintages of Montrachet and Coche Dury. Clearly, this is the wine of the vintage. If this doesn’t blow you away from the initial sip and sniff, have your pulse checked! Made from a blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 45% Semillon, picking took place September 3, finishing September 13. 13.8% ABV. Drink from 2023-2050. 100 Pts
2021 Haut Brion La Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White peach, flowers, yellow citrus, pomelo, and yellow plums are all over the place here. Juicy and fresh, with a creamy, lemon and green apple finish, the endnote really keeps on going. The wine blends 55% Semillon and 45% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2023-2034. 94-94 Pts
2021 Haut Brion Le Clarence de Haut-Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Black plums, smoke, espresso, cherries, flowers and cocoa fill the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, round, fresh, sweet, and polished with chalky tannins, olives, peppery spices, and leafy nuances in the finish. Enjoy this while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 70% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc. 13.6% ABV. Drink 2024-2036. 91-93 Pts
2021 L’Ame de Pape Clément – Graves – Bright, crisp, fresh, round, and fruity, with a smoky accent to the round, dark, plums, and currants, drink this on the young side. Drink from 2023-2028. 86-88 Pts
2021 La Garde Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Bright yellow citrus, vanilla, grapefruit, and lime create the sublime aromatic profile. Crisp, juicy, fresh, and sweet, with the perfect dab of honey on top of the fresh yellow fruits that works perfectly. Drink from 2023-2031. 92-92 Pts
2021 La Louviere – Pessac-Léognan – Floral in nature with accents of tobacco leaf, spice, dark currants, and smoke. The wine is round, polished, soft, and sweet, with plenty of ripe, dark red berries and polished tannins in the medium-bodied finish. Drink from 2024-2039. 90-92 Pts
2021 La Louviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, orange tropical fruit, waxy lemons, grapefruit, green apples, and blazing acidity make this an instant treat to taste due to its racy quality and purity in its fruits. Drink from 2023-2033. 93-93 Pts
2021 La-Mission-Haut-Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Surprisingly deep in color, it takes a bit of effort before finding the cigar box, tobacco, smoke, forest leaf, currants, blackberries, and plums in the nose. On the palate, there is a richness and sweetness to the fruit. But this is not an exuberant vintage. It is reserved, slightly austere, quiet, and discreet. There is a finesse to the tannins and flesh to the fruits, but the wine is restrained, building in the mid-palate with air, finishing with chewy currants, leafy, fresh, green herbs, thyme, and dark chocolate. The wine blends 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, 13.4% ABV. Harvesting took place, September 20 – October 8. Yields were 48 hectoliters per hectare, with 40% of the harvest going into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2026-2055. 93-95 Pts
2021 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – It takes no time at all to be reeled in here, starting with the nose. Crushed rocks, lemon verbena, flowers, pears, green apples, pears, and tangerine rind pack the perfume. As good as the nose is, the palate is equal to the task of keeping you focused with its 60-second plus blast of sweet, juicy, rich, creamy, fresh, vibrant, energetic waves of fruits. This is clearly in contention for one of the best vintages of La Mission Haut Brion Blanc ever produced! Made from a blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 45% Semillon, picking took place September 3, finishing September 10. 14.1% ABV. Drink from 2023-2060. 98-98 Pts
2021 La Mission La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – The fruits are bright, fresh, crisp, and savory, with a leafy, tobacco wrapper, forest leaf, and spearmint accent on the nose, as well as in the chalky, spicy, tobacco-infused, red berry oriented finish. Enjoy it while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc, 13.4% ABV. Drink from 2024-2034. 90-92 Pts
2021 La-Tour-Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Cigar box, tobacco leaf, currants, and dark cherries are in the nose. On the palate, the wine is round, lush, and with a nice polish to the tannins. Supple and soft, with a plummy finish that includes just a bit of chocolate and spice in the endnote, this will drink well just about on release. Drink from 2024-2037. 91-93 Pts
2021 La-Tour-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, orange rind, lemon peel, flowers, green apples, and pineapple create the enticing perfume. Juicy, crisp, fresh, and creamy on the palate, with a sweetness to the yellow citrus along with crisp freshness in the finish. Drink from 2023-2033. 93-93 Pts
2021 Larrivet Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, strawberries, currants, herbs, and a touch of cigar smoke create the nose. Medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh, and elegant, the refined palate is fresh, spicy, and refreshing on the mid-palate, which is also elegant, lifted, and refined. This is quite successful for the vintage. The wine is made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc. This is the first time in the history of the estate that the wine was produced using only Cabernet in the blend. The yields were quite low at 20 hectoliters per hectare, which is as you can guess, is due to the lack of Merlot this year. 2024-2045. 91-93 Pts
2021 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – The nose is just great with all of its pineapple, white peach, honeysuckle, mango, orange rind and waxy lemons in the perfume. Fresh, crisp and energetic, with a bit of chalk to accompany all the yellow fruits in the finish. Drink from 2023-2030. 92-92 Pts
2021 Le Thil Comte Clary – Pessac-Léognan – Forward, soft, and approachable, with crisp, bright, red fruits and a touch of savory herbs on the nose, palate and in the finish. This is going to be quite easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2023-2029. 87-89 Pts
2021 Le-Pape – Pessac-Léognan – Minty herbs, plums, tobacco leaf and cigar box in the nose introduce the medium-bodied, soft, silky, fresh and chalky red fruits oriented wine. This will be gorgeous to enjoy on release. The wine was produced from a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. 12.9% ABV. Harvesting took place October 1 – October 12. Drink from 2023-2032. 89-91 Pts
2021 Lespault-Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Currants and black cherries, smoke, and tobacco leaf on the nose is what you notice before you find all the soft, bright, savory, earthy, leafy and olive tinted red pit fruits on the chewy palate. Drink from 2023-2029. 88-90 Pts
2021 Lespault-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, lemon rind, orange blossom, green apples and spice create the nose. Fresh, creamy, fruity, juicy and lively, with a blast of green apples, pink grapefruit, tangerine and yellow citrus on your palate that hit everything just right. The wine blends 65% Sauvignon Blanc with 35% Semillon. Drink from 2023-2030. 92-92 Pts
2021 Malartic Lagraviere – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, smoke, tobacco leaf, and bright red fruits shine on the nose. The wine is energetic, crisp, and focused on its finesse-styled textures and freshness. There is a touch of chalk along with the red currants in the finish. Eric Boissenot is the new consultant, and with the 2021 vintage, you can really see a major shift in the style of wine being produced here that is not only due to the vintage conditions. It will be interesting to follow the change in direction here. The wine is produced from blending 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, 12.8% ABV. The harvest took place September 29 – October 19. Drink from 2023-2040. 92-94 Pts
2021 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Spices, honeysuckle, lemon rind, pomelo, pears and yellow apple notes are easy to find on the nose and palate. The wine is creamy, fresh, bright, long and packed with sweet yellow fruits and crispness in the finish. The wine blends 89% Sauvignon Blanc with 11% Semillon. Drink from 2023-2034. 94-94 Pts
2021 Malartic Lagraviere Le Comte de Malartic – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, bright clean, spicy, savory, red pit fruits show a nice sweetness and lift on the nose and palate. This will be ready to drink on release and over the near term. Le Comte de Malartic is the new name for the second wine of Malartic Lagraviere. Drink from 2023-2029. 87-89 Pts
2021 Malartic Lagraviere Le Comte de Malartic Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, green apples, citrus, and pears are easy to find on the nose and on the fresh, sweet, bright palate. Enjoy this over the next few years. Le Comte de Malartic Blanc is the new name for the second wine of Malartic Lagraviere. Drink from 2023-2028. 88-88 Pts
2021 ChateauOlivier – Pessac-Léognan – Dark ruby in color, the wine is floral, with black raspberries, plums, cigar wrapper, and a touch of leafy mint in its core. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is soft, silky, vibrant, and energetic. There is a sweetness, roundness, and purity to the fruit on the mid-palate and in the finish. The wine is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, 13.1% ABV. Picking took place September 27 – October 11. Drink from 2023-2036. 89-91 Pts
2021 ChateauOlivier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Crushed rocks, flowers, lemon peel, white peach, and pomelo hit the perfume easily. Juicy, sweet, elevated, energetic, and fresh, the finish is filled with sweet, crisp, yellow citrus from start to finish. The wine blends 80% Sauvignon Blanc with 20% Semillon, 13.5% ABV. The harvest took place September 8 – September 16. Drink from 2023-2033. 94-94 Pts
2021 Pape Clement – Pessac-Léognan – Deep and concentrated with a nose brimming with smoke, espresso, red plums, dark cherries, wet earth, and a touch of chocolate ganache. Concentrated, but seemingly less so than in previous vintages, the wine is fresh, bright, chewy, long, and almost reserved, until you get to all the vibrant red fruits, espresso, and smoky cocoa in the finish. The harvest took place September 28 – October 14. Drink from 2025-2050. 94-96 Pts
2021 Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pumpkin spice, flowers, tart green apples, lemon meringue, white peach, and a touch of pineapple create the nose. Fresh, bright, creamy, lush and packed with sweet, racy, yellow citrus with just a dab of honey, the wine is perfectly poised between its crispness and opulent sides. Picking took place September 8-September 23. Drink from 2023-2035. 95-95 Pts
2021 Pape Clement Clementin Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Creamy, fresh and bright, with lemons, lime, and green apples, and just a hint of spice, this is going to be perfect for consumption over the next few years. In fact, you can enjoy this refreshing wine on release! Drink from 2023-2027. 91-91 Pts
2021 Rahoul – Graves – Light, savory, herbal accented red fruits finish with chalky tannins and a strong, olive and green leafy accent. Drink from 2023-2027. 85-87 Pts
2021 Seguin – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, earthy, and spicy, with a touch of hickory smoke along with its dark currants, coffee bean, mocha and chewy red fruits on the palate. Drink from 2024-2036. 89-90 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – Dark in color, the wine opens with blackberry, boysenberry, flowers, cocoa, licorice, chocolate, and black cherry. The wine is soft, polished, elegant, and refined, with silky tannins, energy, and purity to the fruit, which you can taste in the mid-palate. The finish delivers a precise note of chocolate-covered mint and cherries with a mineral, chalky endnote. Blending 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV pH of 3.65. The harvest took place September 22 through October 14. Yields were low at only 22 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2047. 94-96 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, pineapple, flowers, vanilla, lemon chiffon, and orange blossoms crowd into the nose. Energetic, crisp, fresh, clean, and pure with a fabulous pop in the mouth from all the layers of sweet, but vibrant fruits. The touch of peppery spice in the finish adds another dimension. The wine was produced from a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris, and 5% Semillon. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2023-2035. 98-98 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit – Pessac-Léognan – Deep ruby in color, the wine has depth and volume, soft, ripe tannins, roundness, length, and lift, finishing with soft, fresh, dark currants and leafy tobacco nuances. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon paired with 40% Merlot. Drink from 2024-2037. 90-92 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White peach, flowers, lemon grass, mango and pomelo make the perfume. Bright, crisp, juicy and packed with the crunch of green apples and sweet yellow citrus, this is already easy to enjoy. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2023-2028. 92-92 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith – Pessac-Léognan – Milk chocolate, mint, plums, and black raspberries, with sweet, ripe, red cherries and wet earth on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky, and fresh, with a touch of chalk and lift to the round-textured fruits in the finish. The wine was made from a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2023-2032. 89-91 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, white peach, orange rind, lemon peel, and tangerine with a dab of honey, the wine balances its creaminess with its vibrant, freshness. The wine is produced from 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. Drink from 2023-2028. 93-93 Pts
This is the final report covering all the 2021 Left Bank Wines we tasted. Up next, we will dive into the Right Bank for 2021 Saint Emilion Pt 1, Wines A-J and 2021 Saint Emilion Part 2, Wines L-Z followed by 2021 Pomerol, Cotes de Bordeaux, and more. With luck, most of this will be out by the end of the weekend.
