2021 Bordeaux is perhaps at its most difficult in the diverse array of terroirs found in the far north of the region in the Medoc. Many of the wines display a strong, savory, olive, and herb characteristic, giving the wines an old-school, firm, classic edge. There are a few over achievers in this vintage, but you have to know where to look.
All of the following 2021 Medoc Bordeaux wines were tasted in non-blind tasting conditions in my home office.
2021 Beauvillage – Médoc – Light in color, the wine is medium-bodied, with an herbal edge to strawberry, currant and smoky nose. Chewy, rustic and crisp, with a peppery overtone in the chalky finish. Drink from 2024-2035. 89 Pts
2021 Bellerive – Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a core of fresh, bright, red fruits and herbs on the nose and on the light-textured, dusty palate. This will be ready to drink on release. Drink from 2024-2033. 87 Pts
2021 Bensse – Médoc – Sweet oak, red fruits and tobacco create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is soft, forward and already, quite easy to enjoy. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
2021 Blaignan – Médoc – Medium-bodied with a medicinal edge to its core of red fruits and herbs. You can drink this on release. Drink from 2024-2030. 84 Pts
2021 Bourdieu – Médoc – Tobacco, cedar and red berries with a touch of green herbs on the nose and in the forward, dusty, finish.. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 Bournac – Médoc – The nose of espresso and cherries is a pleasant introduction to the soft, strawberries, plums and cherries on the dusty-textured, fruity palate. This is solid value wine from the Left Bank. Drink from 2024-2034. 89 Pts
2021 Carcanieux – Médoc – Light, bright, crisp, red fruits with an austere character on the nose and medium-bodied, chalky, drying palate. Drink from 2024-2029. 82 Pts
2021 Castera – Médoc – Medium-bodied, easy to drink, soft-textured, uncomplicated charmer that is good-to-go on release for near-term drinking. Drink from 2023-2031. 87 Pts
2021 Chantemerle – Médoc – Black raspberries, earth, and currants come together in this bright, crisp, herbal-centric wine. Forward, medium-bodied, and high-toned in the finish, you can drink this on release. Drink from 2024-2031. 84 Pts
2021 Clement Saint-Jean – Médoc – Floral stems, black raspberries and oak create the nose, and the core of this medium-bodied, soft, fruity palate. You can enjoy this easily on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 Clos Manou – Médoc – One of the top Medoc’s in this vintage, the wine sports tobacco leaf, black cherry, flowers and cedar notes in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, fresh, and almost firm. There is some length with a refreshing spearmint note on the backend. Drink from 2023-2030. 89-91 91 Pts
2021 De Panigon – Médoc – Medium-bodied with a simple core of cherries with a touch of oak in the nose, and on the light-textured, chalky, drying palate. Drink from 2024-2029. 84 Pts
2021 Du Perier – Médoc – Medium-bodied, dusty, chalky, red fruits with a green olive note on the mid-palate. This should be ready to go on release. Drink from 2024-2031. 86 Pts
2021 Escot – Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a touch of oak that adds roundness to the bright, red fruits in the nose and palate, giving the wine an early-drinking, already approachable character. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Fleur La Mothe – Médoc – Black raspberries, cherries, flowers and a touch of spice pop with little effort in the nose. The palate, which is medium-bodied, soft, fresh and vibrant delivers sweetness and spice in its red berries with a touch of refreshing mint from start to finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Fontis – Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a core of ripe currants, burnt herbs, chalk, green olives and blackberries on the ready-to-drink finish. Drink from 2024-2033. 89 Pts
2021 Gemeillan – Médoc – A bit oaky on the nose, which is followed by cherries and licorice notes. Soft, round and fruity, without much complexity, this is going to be easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2024-2033. 87 Pts
2021 Goulee – Médoc – Round, forward, fruity and already accessible, the medium-bodied, wine is filled with dark chocolate, black cherries, espresso and plums. You can enjoy this with ease on release. Drink from 2024-2031. 90 Pts
2021 Haut Barrail – Médoc – Leafy tobacco, cedar and bright red fruits fill the core of this wine in the nose and on the chewy, dusty, sharp, red currant and cranberry palate. Drink from 2024-2031. 85 Pts
2021 Haut Maurac – Médoc – Flowers, bright red fruits and espresso fill the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, soft and loaded with crisp, currants, red plums and a touch of citrus. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 89 Pts
2021 L’Ecrin de Couleys – Médoc – Medium-bodied with a core of tobacco, cedar and currants in the nose. Forward and already easy to drink, with its light red currant finish. Drink from 2024-2029. 86 Pts
2021 L’Or des Terres – Médoc – Produced without sulfites offers a simple nose of espresso and red fruits. The palate, is forward, round and fruity, but without distinction. Drink this on the young side. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 La Branne – Médoc – Black raspberries and flowers define the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, bright and crisp, with a soft side to its citrus, accented red fruits. Drink from 2024-2032. 80 Pts
2021 La Cardonne – Médoc – Medium-bodied, earthy, soft, round, oaky, oriented, red berry-filled wine with a touch of spearmint on the backend that will be easy to drink on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 La Chandellière – Médoc – Medium-bodied, forward and already accessible, there is a light, chewy quality to the bright, red berries on the palate, with a peppery edge in the finish. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
2021 La Croix – Médoc – Medium-bodied, forward, pleasant, early-drinker with an easy-to-like, red fruit charm. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 La Roque de By – Médoc – The discreet nose leads the way to its medium-bodied, bright, crisp core of red fruits that finish with a strong, green, leafy note on the backend. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 La Tour de By Heritage Marc Pages – Médoc – Black cherries, peppery currants and espresso with a touch of mint, open the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, forward, fresh and easy going, with a sweet, supple, almost creamy, though light red berry finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 89 Pts
2021 Labadie – Médoc – Cranberry, and bright strawberry notes are front and center on the nose and palate of this crisp, quite bright, red berry filled wine. Drink from 2024-2029. 84 Pts
2021 Lacombe Noaillac – Médoc – Cedar, herbs, mint leaf and red currants fill the nose and the crisp, citrus oriented, bright palate. Drink from 2024-2029. 84 Pts
2021 Ladignac – Médoc – Forward, peppery, earthy, red fruits on the nose that carry through to the medium-bodied, dusty, leafy palate. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 Lartigue – Médoc – Spearmint, peppery, tobacco, forest leaves and cherries are what you find in the nose. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is soft, fruity and delivers more of those fresh cherries along with red plums from start to finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Lattes – Médoc – Herbal, tobacco and mint come along with the tart, peppery, red fruits on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2024-2031. 84 Pts
2021 Laujac – Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a floral, salty, red currant and cranberry nose, the wine is vibrant and chewy on the palate, with an herbal edge to the finish. Drink from 2024-2030. 84 Pts
2021 Les Grands Chenes – Médoc – Initially, you find oak, balsamic, cedar, smoke, licorice and red fruits in the nose. The medium-bodied, palate is soft, round and wants to be fleshy, there is a touch of spice and chocolate that comes in at the end of the finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 Les-Ormes-Sorbet – Médoc – Cedar, spearmint and peppery herbs show in the nose and light palate. The short finish offers a distinct herbal edge and dryness in the olive notes on the backend. Drink from 2024-2029. 84 Pts
2021 Livran – Médoc – Earthy, leafy, spicy red fruits are easy to find on the nose and on the medium-bodied, fresh, soft, early-drinking, lighter-styled, cherry-filled palate. Though the finish does dry out at the end. Drink from 2023-2030. 86 Pts
2021 Loudenne – Médoc – Cedar, spicy herbs and currants open the wine in the nose and on the palate. The wine is medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant and serves up a refreshing mint note, along with its peppery red fruits in the finish. Drink from 2024-2033. 87 Pts
2021 Lousteauneuf – Médoc – Vanilla and espresso blend with dark cherries and cocoa to create the perfume. Medium-bodied, round and almost creamy with a sharp edge to the spicy red fruits on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Mareil – Médoc – Espresso and red currants for the simple nose. On the palate, the wine is equally easy going with its bright, crisp red berries and a round finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
2021 Moines – Médoc – Black raspberries and orange rind come through in this medium-bodied, bright, forward-styled wine. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
2021 Moulin de Canhaut – Médoc – Medium-bodied, bright cherries with an orange citrus edge for early-drinking, uncomplicated pleasure. Drink from 2024-203. 85 Pts
2021 Moulin de l’Abbaye – Médoc – Oak, wet earth and burnt wood accompany peppery currants in the nose. There is a roundness to the texture before you get the bitter-tinted red fruits in the finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 84 Pts
2021 Patache dAux – Médoc – Forward, round and fruity with nuances of smoke, licorice, cherries and plums, the wine is medium-bodied, soft and with a minty edge in the finish. Drink from 2024-2033. 88 Pts
2021 Pierre de Montignac – Médoc – Oaky on the nose, and palate, which adds to its roundness in the texture, and provides an espresso note with the peppery, red fruits in the drying finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Plagnac – Médoc – Dusty, leafy red fruits, medium-bodied and with an early drinking character. Drink from 2024-2029. 85 Pts
2021 Poitevin – Médoc – Medium-bodied, chunky, red berries are found in the nose and palate., finishing with an earthy, leafy, spearmint and charred coffee bean note in the finish. This is going to be easy to enjoy over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
2021 Pontet-Barrail – Médoc – Early-drinking, with a nose that delivers its cherries, tobacco, cedar and orange spice nose easily. Vibrant, forward, soft and with enough fruit for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Pontey – Médoc – Medium-bodied, energetic, red-fruited palate with an easy-going, palate entry and freshness in the blend of strawberries and cherries in the finish. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Preuillac – Médoc – Crisp, fresh, bright red fruits with a savory edge are the heart and soul of this early-drinking, medium-bodied wine. The finish is firm, fresh and minty. Drink from 2023-2032. 90 Pts
2021 Ricaudet – Médoc – With a strong dose of oak in the nose, the fruit is hidden in the nose and on the palate. One past the oak on the palate, the texture is round and polished, but the berries are difficult to find behind all the oak. Some tasters are going to like this style with its striving to be fleshy quality. Drink from 2024-2030. 88 Pts
2021 Rousseau de Sipian – Médoc – Forward, fruity and a bit oaky, so, you do have roundness, along with an espresso and cocoa note with the currants in the finish. Drink from 2024-2030. 86 Pts
2021 Saint Bonnet – Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a touch of oak and herbs to the core of cranberries and currants on the nose and soft, almost, medicinal, red cherry palate. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Saint Christophe – Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a core of cherries surrounded by oak, leaving you with fruity, but drying finish. Drink from 2024-2028. 82 Pts
2021 Saint-Christoly – Médoc – Bright red fruits with accents of cedar, tobacco leaf. and peppery herbs to form the nose. Crisp and peppery on the light palate with a cranberry, and red currant note in the finish provides an early drinking, piquant wine. Drink from 2024-2031. 85 Pts
2021 Saint-Hilaire – Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a touch of oak and a dash of pepper in the nose, along with red fruits that also appear on the easy-to-like palate. There is a touch of chalk in the finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Tour Castillon – Médoc – Light, simple, forward, early, and easy drinking wine without faults, but also lacking in distinction. Drink from 2024-2029. 84 Pts
2021 Tourteyron – Médoc – Light on the nose and palate, the strawberries and currants on the palate finish with a strong, herbal and olive edge. Drink from 2024-2029. 82 Pts
2021 Trois Manoirs – Médoc – Herbal, with cedar, tobacco and bright, chewy, red fruits with a green edge on the nose and palate. Drink from 2024-2029. 83 Pts
2021 Troussas – Médoc – Medium-bodied, light-weight, red berry and herbal palate with a strong, green olive note on the backend. Drink from 2024-2031. 84 Pts
2021 Valiere – Médoc – Forward, soft-textured, gentle expression of its core of cherries and plums. It is not long, but I like the fruits it offers on the mid-palate and in the finish. Drink from 2024-2033. 89 Pts
2021 Vieux Robin – Médoc – A bit too much oak covers the nose, before you get to the medium-bodied, forward, round, earthy, cherry and cocoa oriented, slightly-drying palate. Drink from 2024-2032. 85 Pts
2021 Villa Carmin – Médoc – Tobacco, cedar, underbrush and currants pop in the nose. On the palate, the wine is light, forward and fresh with a vibrant, crisp, red currant finish. This is going to be great on release. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
For an overview of the 2021 Bordeaux vintage with links to all of our appellation reports 2021 Bordeaux In Bottle Report for the Best 750 Wines of the vintage We are continuing our reports on the top 750 wines tasted in bottle from the 2021 Bordeaux vintage. Up next, we are continuing our coverage in the Left Bank with an in-depth look at 2021 Listrac and 2021 Moulis, followed by 2021 Haut Medoc, before moving on the more illustrious appellations of the Left Bank.
