2021 Bordeaux is perhaps at its most difficult in the diverse array of terroirs found in the massive Haut Medoc appellation. There are producers that did manage to create up some fine wines with character, that will be enjoyable on release, and in their youth.
The wines are not long-term agers. Instead, they are soft-textured, forward, and medium-bodied, if not almost light in weight. The fruits are on the red side of the spectrum with freshness and charm. The wines are perfect for ordering in bistros, cafes, and restaurants, as they do not need decanting, just pop, pour, and enjoy them over the next decade or so. The best wines of the vintage can be aged a but longer.
Once past those estates, however, the challenges with 2021 Bordeaux become more apparent. You sense this with the rustic textures, bright, crispy, red, cranberry-edged fruits, and strong notes of pepper, and pyrazines. But, do keep in mind, at their best, the top 2021 Haut Medoc wines offer nice, early-drinking charm.
All of the following 2021 Haut Medoc wines were tasted in Bordeaux in non-blind tasting conditions in my home office.
2021 Agassac – Haut-Médoc – Sweet red cherries with a touch of mint and smoked herbs open the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, polished and soft with the essence of cherries and plums in the dusty, berry and olive tinted finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 Arnauld – Haut-Médoc – Crushed rocks and bright, red fruits are the foundation of this red berry-filled, medium-bodied, chalky-textured wine. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 Barreyres – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a reasonable amount of red fruits, that come along with citrus, cocoa and dried flowers. Light, soft and already drinkable, with a refreshing touch of mint in the finish, you can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 89 Pts
2021 Beaumont – Haut-Médoc – Nicely balanced between its secondary tobacco notes and its black cherry and smoky side in the nose, the wine is medium-bodied, forward, soft, and ready to deliver its herbal cherries and charred cigar box character in the finish. This is showing much better from bottle than it did from the barrel. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Bel Air-Gloria – Haut-Médoc – Black cherries, flowers, and tobacco form the core of this wine. Medium-bodied, fresh, soft and charming, especially for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Bel Orme Tronquoy de Lalande – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, bright-red currant and herb-tinted wine for early-drinking consumption. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 Belgrave – Haut-Médoc – Menthol, wild cherries, licorice, spearmint and leafy tobacco notes open the nose and the palate. The wine is bright, fresh and almost zesty with its crisp, chewy, red berry finish. Drink from 2025-2037. 90 Pts
2021 Bellegrave du Poujeau – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a licorice, herb and bright red currant center, the wine is forward, crisp and herbal on the mid-palate and finish. Drink from 2024-2033. 87 Pts
2021 Bellegrave-du-Poujeau – Haut-Médoc – Earthy red fruits with a touch of spice in the nose bring you to the medium-bodied, crisp, bright, strict, cranberry and red currant finish. Drink from 2024-2031. 86 Pts
2021 Bernadotte – Haut-Médoc – Initially you notice a light touch of oak, along with its core of bright red fruits and dried flowers. The finish, with its oak and salt masks the red fruits on the backend. Drink from 2024-2032. 86 Pts
2021 Braude – Haut-Médoc – Espresso, incense, dried flowers, vanilla and red fruits permeate the nose. The strong oaky theme is carried through to the medium-bodied, palate, finishing with rounded, red cherries, cocoa and olives on the backend. Drink from 2024-2033. 87 Pts
2021 Cantemerle – Haut-Médoc – Light, bright, crisp, classic, and racy, this medium-bodied, edgy, firm, red cherry, and raspberry wine is packed with herbs, flowers, peppery spices, cedar. and tobacco. This is a firm, crunchy, old-school wine that blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026-2041 91 Pts
2021 Cissac – Haut-Médoc – With riper fruit than many of its peers, the wine offers soft-textured red plums, black raspberries and strawberries in a forward, approachable, soft, enjoyable style. Drink from 2024-2034. 87 Pts
2021 Citran – Haut-Médoc – Peppery red fruits, herbs cigar wrappers create the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, bright and citrusy, which gives it a lot of lift and crispness in the finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 Clos La Bohème – Haut-Médoc – Balsamic, pepper and red cherries blend in the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, with ample fruit that dries out in the finish. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 Corconnac – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a leafy tobacco, cedar and red currant character. The finish is soft and gentle, with a light display of red fruits and peppery mint. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Coufran – Haut-Médoc – Black cherries, thyme and herbs show in the perfume and on the medium-bodied, soft, slightly-salty, red berry palate, which wraps everything up nicely with a light touch of cocoa on the backend. This is going to be delicious on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 87 Pts
2021 Croix du Trale – Haut-Médoc – Espresso, bright red fruits and tobacco pop in the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, crisp and bright, with a high-toned accent that comes through in the cranberry and strawberry finish. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
2021 D’Arcins – Haut-Médoc – A bit oaky on the nose before moving to the cigar box and red fruits at its core. Fresh, vibrant and on the crisp, red berry side of the style range, with a nice touch of orange rind on the back end, you can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 D’Hanteillan – Haut-Médoc – Hints of dark cocoa and licorice accompany the black cherries in this tasty, medium-bodied, rounded wine., which continues with the touch if chocolate theme in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2024-2033. 89 Pts
2021 De Cassana – Haut-Médoc – Tobacco, cedar and red currants form the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, bright and sharp, with cranberry, currants and a touch of oranges in the finish. You can enjoy this with ease on release. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 De Lauga – Haut-Médoc – Forward, with soft-textured cherries and plums on the palate, this easy-to-like styled wine with its fruit and a touch of cocoa and chalk at the end is ready-to-go. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Dillon – Haut-Médoc – Cedar and leafy tobacco show along with the wines red currant core of berries. Light on the palate, and ready for near-term enjoyment. Drink from 2024-2030. 87 Pts
2021 Doyac – Haut-Médoc – Wet earth, cigar wrapper, pepper and currants form the nose and palate. Soft, light, fresh and charming, you can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Du Cartillon – Haut-Médoc – The espresso and cherry perfume fills your nose. The fruit on the palate doesn’t match the nose, as it is much higher-toned, with crisp, bright red currant and pepper notes and a blast of orange citrus that comes on at the end. Drink from 2024-2033. 88 Pts
2021 Giscours Haut-Medoc – Haut-Médoc – Tobacco leaf, cedar, sage bright red fruits pop in the nose. The medium-bodied palate is soft, edge and vibrant with a cherry and blood orange note in the chalky finish, Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Haut Beyzac – Haut-Médoc – With a bit too much oak that overwhelms the fruit, especially in this vintage, the wine is medium-bodied, forward finishes with sweet ripe cherries in an uncomplicated manner. 2024-2031. 86 Pts
2021 L’Orme de Rauzan Gassies – Haut-Médoc – Bright, fresh, crisp red berry and citrus oriented wine with a chalky, dusty finish for early-drinking pleasure. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 La Fon du Berger – Haut-Médoc – Lead pencil, cedar, herbs and crisp red fruits form the core of the wine. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, sharp, salty and offers its sweet and tart, cranberry and currant profile easily. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 La Lagune – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, elegant, racy, crisp and light on its feet, here, the bright red fruits and floral accents in the nose and on the palate steal the show, finishing with a minty freshness and savory edge to the fruits in the endnote. Drink from 2025-2042. 91 Pts
2021 La Tour Carnet – Haut-Médoc – Black cherries, espresso and chocolate are the theme of the day here. Round, generous, and polished, the glossy finish delivers a juicy mouthful of black cherries spice and chocolate in every sip. Drink from 2024-2037. 91 Pts
2021 Lacour Jacquet – Haut-Médoc – With a strong, herbal edge to its crunchy red berry profile, the medium-bodied wine dries out in the weedy, red fruit finish. Drink from 2024-2029. 83 Pts
2021 Lamothe Bergeron – Haut-Médoc – Spice, tobacco, cedar, smoke and red fruits start off in the perfume, before moving to the medium-bodied, rounded palate. This is quite a successful wine for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Lanessan – Haut-Médoc – Peppery, red fruits, herbs and underbrush open the nose. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with black currants, peppery herbs, green olives and dusty tannins. This is more in line with some of the Lanessan’s that were produced in the past. Drink from 2024-2037 89 Pts
2021 Larose Perganson – Haut-Médoc – Black and red currants, dusty, licorice and a touch of cocoa produce a nice perfume. Medium-bodied, bright, fresh and with a splash of citrus giving it extra lift and energy. Drink from 2024-2034. 89 Pts
2021 Larose-Trintaudon – Haut-Médoc – Forward, early-drinking, red-fruit oriented wine with a touch of orange citrus on the mid-palate and in the finish of this medium-bodied wine that you can enjoy on release. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Larrivaux – Haut-Médoc – The nose is like smoking a good cigar with a basket of red fruit on the table, close at hand. Medium-bodied, soft, silky, and fresh, with just enough sweet citrus in the finish to make it interesting. Drink from 2024-2035. 90 Pts
2021 Le Monteil d’Arsac – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, forward, uncomplicated blend of almost ripe red fruits with a short , chalky finish. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 Lestage-Simon – Haut-Médoc – The nose, with its dark cherry profile is better than the medium-bodied palate with its essence of herbs and olives, which overrides the fruit. The finish is a bit drying. Drink from 2024-2031. 86 Pts
2021 Liversan – Haut-Médoc – The oak works here, adding flesh and roundness to the light cherries, which display a strong, green edge, that dries out on the backend. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Madame de Beaucaillou – Haut-Médoc – Tobacco leaf, plums, cherries, and a hint of cocoa pop in the nose. Already quite tasty in your glass, the wine is soft, energetic, sweet and fresh, with ample cherries and a light, but, judicious touch of chocolate and spearmint in the finish. Drink from 2024-2031. 89 Pts
2021 Malescasse – Haut-Médoc – Plums, tobacco and cherries make their presence known from the start. The wine is open, forward, medium-bodied, bright, and chewy, with a touch of green olives, dusty cherries and mint that show in the finish. Drink from 2024-2033. 89 Pts
2021 Malleret – Haut-Médoc – Savory cherries with a touch of herbs, olives and cigar box on the nose and on the dusty, chalky, palate. This should be enjoyable to drink on release. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Martin – Haut-Médoc – Bright, fresh and easy-going, the wine is medium-bodied, forward and delivers its straight-ahead, firm, red currant and strawberry accented finish with ease. Drink from 2024-2030. 84 Pts
2021 Maurac – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, soft, fruity and on the cherry and plum side of the style range will be best enjoyed in its youth. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 Meyre – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a perfume sporting flowers and fruits to get the wine going. Soft and accessible, the wine will be easy to enjoy on release. The vineyard is biodynamically farmed. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 Moulin Rouge – Haut-Médoc – Spearmint, mint, espresso and red berries pop in the nose, and on the palate of this medium-bodied, forward, wine, which ends on a bright, crisp, citrus and red plum note. Drink from 2024-2029. 85 Pts
2021 Moulin de Blanchon – Haut-Médoc – Bright, fresh, crisp red berries with a touch of spearmint is in the perfume and in the finish before you get to the drying finish. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 Paloumey – Haut-Médoc – Smoke, burnt wood, cedar chest and bright red fruits pop in the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, earthy, fruity and creamy on the palate. This is quite strong for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Peyrabon – Haut-Médoc – Forward and already approachable due to is savory-edged, dark red berries, crisp acidity and its mélange of green herbs that add its character in the nose and palate. Drink from 2024-2032. 89 Pts
2021 Pontoise Cabarrus – Haut-Médoc – Currants, spice, mint and citrus crowd into the wine. On the palate, the wine is soft, forward, and quite charming for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Prieure de Beyzac – Haut-Médoc – Medicinal red cherries, dried flowers and cedar form the character here. Medium-bodied, soft and approachable,, the wine finishes with a light dose of red currants, chalky tannins and herbs on the backend. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Puy Castera – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, forward, fruity, and while not complicated, it was easy and without fault on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Ramage La Batisse – Haut-Médoc – Buttoned up and not very expressive on the nose, the wine is only slightly more interesting on the medium-bodied palate with its core of cranberries and green olives that begin drying out in the finish. Drink from 2024-2029. 82 Pts
2021 Retout – Haut-Médoc – Red fruit, herbs, spice and a slight touch of cocoa get the wine going. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, crisp and fresh with chewy textures, cocoa, and red fruits on the backend. This is going to be quite easy to enjoy on release. 2024-2035. 90 Pts
2021 Reysson – Haut-Médoc – Savory mint, cocoa, red fruits and herbs are found throughout the wine, on the nose and medium-bodied, vibrant, chewy palate. This is a wine you can enjoy this just about on release. Drink from 2024-2035. 88 Pts
2021 Saint Ahon – Haut-Médoc – Forward, round, fruity, and with a touch of oak in the nose and palate, uncomplicated and easy to drink, you can enjoy it over the near-term. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Senilhac – Haut-Médoc – Smoke, black cherries and cigar box aromas are front and center. The wine is medium-bodied, fruity and forward with an earthy, herbal, almost round-textured, black cherry, slightly-drying finish. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
2021 Soudars – Haut-Médoc – A touch of burnt match is what you initially find before the red fruits and flowers begin emerging. The light red fruits continue on the palate and through to the finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Taillan – Haut-Médoc – Vibrant, crisp, and bright in character, the wine quickly focuses you on its mildly salty, chewy red berries. The wine begins drying out in the finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Tour du Goua – Haut-Médoc – Red currants, citrus rind and a touch of tobacco leaf form the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, fruity and serves up more of those sweet red berries in the finish, with just a hint of cocoa on the backend. Drink from 2024-2034. 88 Pts
2021 Tourteran – Haut-Médoc – Peppery red fruits, and oaky aromas in front bring you to a forward, medium-bodied wine with bright, crisp red fruits on the palate, which dries out in the finish, Drink from 2024-2032. 86 Pts
2021 Verdignan – Haut-Médoc – Spice, cedar, leafy tobacco, and red currants create the character here. Medium-bodied, soft, forward and ready-to-go, this is quite nice for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2030. 86 Pts
2021 Vieux Landat – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, light, bright, crisp red fruits with an herbal edge on the nose and palate, that will be best in its youth. 2024-2028. 83 Pts
2021 Vieux Landon – Haut-Médoc – Floral, spicy and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied, soft and lifted, but, not high-toned, leaving you with sweet, currants and cherries with a hint of peppery spice on the back end. Drink from 2024-2032. 89 Pts
2021 Villegeorge – Haut-Médoc – Tobacco, blackberries, licorice, flowers and create the nose, which is quite nice. But, the medium-bodied palate is even better smooth red berry core of fruits and soft tannins, with a minor suggestion of cocoa on the backend. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 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 skipping around a bit. We will publish tasting notes and ratings for 2021 Right Bank wines with 2021 Fronsac Wines followed by the best 2021 Cotes de Bordeaux wines.
