2021 Haut Medoc, 2021 Listrac, and 2021 Moulis wines are well worth looking at for fans of classic Bordeaux. Lovers of fresh, bright, crisp wines with a savory edge on the palate will be quite pleased with the 2021 Bordeaux vintage.
It is important to keep in mind that the Haut-Medoc is a massive appellation running from the far north of the Medoc, all the way down the southern part of the Left Bank. Due to its scale, naturally, the terroir varies widely. That means with all the numerous challenges growers faced with the 2021 vintage, there is an even more divergent range of qualities found in the wines than usual. For an overview of the entire Bordeaux region in 2021, please read 2021 Bordeaux Complete Guide to the Vintage
2021 Haut Medoc Harvest and Growing Season Report.
With 2021 Haut Medoc vineyards, several producers suffered losses from the devastating frosts of April 7 and 8. The massive amount of water in the vineyards was another issue And the attack of downy mildew further reduced production. Finally, there was a respite in the weather with the Indian Summer that appeared at the end of August, which helped growers reach a better level of maturity than they were expecting, allowing those that picked late to harvest in reasonable conditions. For a more detailed report on the weather that shaped the vintage: 2021 Bordeaux Growing Season and Harvest Report
The following 2021 Haut Medoc, Listrac, and Moulis Wines wines were all tasted in Bordeaux in April in non-blind conditions.
2021 Agassac – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, soft, earthy, herbal, leafy red fruits, olives, and herbs form the core this of early-drinking, charming, easy to like wine. Drink from 2023-2031. 86-88 Pts
2021 Arnauld – Haut-Médoc – Bright, vivid red fruits, leafy herbs, underbrush, and crisp red berries create a solid, classic, Left Bank Bordeaux that will be perfect to enjoy in its first decade of life. Drink from 2023-2032. 87-89 Pts
2021 Beaumont – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, forward, soft, short, and sweet, this is going to best in its youth to capture all of its softness and pleasant characteristics in its red fruits. Drink from 2023-2030. 86-88 Pts
2021 Belgrave – Haut-Médoc – Dark currants, savory herbs, and espresso fill your nose and palate. Medium-bodied, forward, round and fruity with a dash of chocolate in the plummy endnote, you can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2023-2037. 89-91 Pts
2021 Bernadotte – Haut-Médoc – Light, soft and fresh, the fruits are easy to like in this medium-bodied, forward, red berry-filled wine, finishing with an herbal, savory edge to the crisp red fruits. Drink from 2023-2029. 86-88 Pts
2021 Beychvelle Les Brulieres de Beychevelle – Haut-Médoc – Early-drinking, soft, forward charmer with a light, fruity character that is going to be easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2023-2027. 85-87 Pts
2021 Branas-Grand-Poujeaux – Moulis en Médoc – A touch of cocoa, licorice, flowers, and red fruits show up easily on the nose and in the soft, forward, medium-bodied, fleshy, polished palate. Drink from 2023-2030. 88-90 Pts
2021 Cantemerle – Haut-Médoc – Bright, crisp, fresh, juicy and focused on its red currant nose. Medium-bodied, savory, with a soft, minty edge to the bright, red fruits on the palate, you can drink this on the young side. The wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2024-2042. 90-92 Pts
2021 Caronne Ste. Gemme – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied with chewy red fruits, the wine is on the oaky side, giving it roundness, but also dryness in the finish. This is probably the last vintage for this popular Haut-Medoc as it was recently purchased by Bernard Magrez and it will probably be annexed into La Tour Carnet. Drink from 2023-2029. 83-85 Pts
2021 Charmail – Haut-Médoc – Dark currants and herbs on the nose, the wine is medium-bodied, earthy, herbal and olive, centric on the crisp, red berry palate. Drink from 2023-2036. 88-90 Pts
2021 Chasse Spleen – Moulis en Médoc – Strong underbrush, leafy tobacco, herbs, olives, and cedar notes accompany the bright red fruits on the medium-bodied, chewy, peppery-spiced palate. Drink from 2023-2038. 89-90 Pts
2021 Cissac – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, bright, crisp, fresh, spicy red currants with leafy overtones, cedar and tobacco wrapper with a chewy, peppery, red currant finish. Drink from 2023-2034. 85-87 Pts
2021 Citran – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, crisp, crunchy red berries with tobacco leaf nuances that can be enjoyed in its youth. Drink from 2023-2033. 85-87 Pts
2021 Clement Pichon – Haut-Médoc – Round, fruity, forward, and fresh, with a savory edge to the round-textured, dark plums, with touches of espresso, cocoa, and plums on the mid-palate and in the earthy, herbal, olive-tinted finish. Drink from 2023-2032 88-90 Pts
2021 Clos Manou – Médoc – Deeply colored, there is fruit and freshness here with round textures and nice character, finishing with blackberries, tobacco leaf, and plums along with a hint of cocoa in the endnote. The wine blends 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2023-2030. 89-91 Pts
2021 Coufran – Haut-Médoc – Dark red currants, cherries, and a touch of espresso are what you initially notice before finding the medium-bodied, round-textured, cherry-filled mid-palate and savory-edged, red pit fruit finish. Drink from 2023-2033. 88-87 Pts
2021 Fleur La Mothe – Médoc – Lead pencil, flowers, bright red currants, and herbs are found on the nose and in the medium-bodied, soft, supple palate. Quite successful for the vintage, this forward, fruity, pepper-edged, bright, red plum-filled wine will be best in its youth. Drink from 2023-2030. 88-90 Pts
2021 G d’Estournel – Médoc – Flowers, smoke, and red fruits are found in the nose and on the soft, supple, fresh, forward, already charming, fruity palate. This will drink well on release. Drink from 2023-2031. 88-90 Pts
2021 Giscours Haut-Medoc – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, fresh forward, soft, short, and sweet, this easy to like, fresh, savory red berry-filled wine is already easy to enjoy. Drink from 2023-2028. 86-88 Pts
2021 Greysac – Médoc – Medium-bodied, soft, round, fruity, easy-drinking currant and floral oriented wine with a strong, green, leafy accent in the finish. Drink this on the young side. Drink from 2023-2027. 85-87 Pts
2021 Haut Condissas – Médoc – Espresso, incense, plums, and currants show easily on the nose and in the soft, round, forward, chocolate-accented, fruity, oaky palate. Drink from 2023-2029. 88-90 Pts
2021 Haut-Madrac – Haut-Médoc – Savory red fruits, underbrush, and peppery spices show in the nose and on the palate in this soft, forward, already easy-to-drink wine. Drink from 2023-2028. 84-86 Pts
2021 La Tour Carnet – Haut-Médoc – Espresso, smoke, incense and dark plums on the nose and in the lush, round, polished, fruity palate. You can enjoy this in its youth. Drink from 2023-2037. 89-91 Pts
2021 La Tour de By Heritage Marc Pages – Médoc – Soft and sweet with a ripe, cherry, and currant profile. The wine is medium-bodied, polished, and fruity. Drink from 2023-2028. 87-89 Pts
2021 La-Tour-de-By – Médoc – Forward, early-drinking, medium-bodied, peppery-cherry-filled wine with a shot of menthol in the endnote that you can enjoy on release. Drink from 2023-2028. 85-87 Pts
2021 Lamarque – Haut-Médoc – Tobacco, cedar, and red currant filled, medium-bodied, lighter-styled wine for early-drinking consumption. Drink from 2023-2028. 87-89 Pts
2021 Lamothe Bergeron – Haut-Médoc – A solid example of classic, Left Bank Bordeaux focused on its crisp, bright, fresh-edged red currants, peppery herbs, underbrush, and tobacco leaf. Forward, medium-bodied with the structure to age for over a decade. Drink from 2023-2033. 88-90 Pts
2021 Lanessan – Haut-Médoc – Underbrush, tobacco leaf, peppery spice, red currants, and crisp red plums form the core of the wine. Medium-bodied, bright, chewy, and peppery, this is quite classic in style, with a nice sweetness to the bite in the red fruits found in the endnote. Drink from 2024-2040. 88-90 Pts
2021 Larose Perganson – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, crunchy red fruits with a vibrant core of peppery currants and a crisp, chewy, red berry finish. Drink from 2023-2032. 86-88 Pts
2021 Les Grands Chenes – Médoc – Espresso, licorice, coffee bean, and currants come through easily, making this soft, round, fruity, forward, and already quite charming to drink, for all its round-textures, sweet fruits, and chocolate on release. Drink from 2023-2035. 89-91 Pts
2021 Madame de Beaucaillou – Haut-Médoc – Earthy, spicy red fruits, with hints of tobacco leaf on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, forward, fresh, soft, short, and sweet, this is going to be delicious on release and over the next decade or so. Drink from 2023-2031. 88-90 Pts
2021 Malescasse – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, crunchy, and savory, softly textured, with a savory, olive edge to the finish. Drink from 2024-2038. 87-89 Pts
2021 Maucaillou – Moulis en Médoc – Light, forward, soft and fruity, you can enjoy this brighter-styled, leafy, red currant, and cranberry-filled wine with ease on release. Drink from 2023-2030. 84-86 Pts
2021 Mauvesin Barton – Moulis en Médoc – Medium-bodied, the wine is earthy, savory, and herbal, with strong underbrush and roasted, herb leaning on the palate and in the crisp finish. Drink this on the young side. Drink from 2023-2029. 86-88 Pts
2021 Noaillac – Médoc – Bright, crisp red fruits with a strong, herbal accent, along with olives and peppery notes in the finish. This is best enjoyed in its youth. Drink from 2023-2028. 84-86 Pts
2021 Paloumey – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, with a savory, herbal accent to the flowers and red fruits in the nose, the wine finishes with a touch of menthol along with its crisp, cranberry, and peppery red currants, Drink from 2023-2029. 87-89 Pts
2021 Patache dAux – Médoc – Cedar, leafy tobacco, forest leaf, and currants are on the nose and the palate of this medium-bodied, bright, crisp, fruity, fresh, cherry and cranberry filled wine. There is a nice touch of spice on the endnote. Drink from 2023-2031. 86-88 Pts
2021 Poitevin – Médoc – Medium-bodied, chunky, red berries with a peppery accent are found in the nose and palate. This is going to be easy to enjoy over the next few years. Drink from 2023-2029. 86-88 Pts
2021 Potensac – Médoc – Leafy spearmint and red fruits are the thrust of this bright, crisp, foursquare-styled vintage. Quite classic in nature, this firm, chewy wine is perfect for lovers of classic Bordeaux. The wine was produced by blending 40% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc and 13% Petit Verdot, 13.1% ABV. Drink from 2025-2038. 89-91 Pts
2021 Potensac Chapelle de Potensac – Médoc – Bright, crisp raspberry, red plums, and spicy currants are fresh, vibrant, and crunchy. You will be able to enjoy this on release. Drink from 2022-2028 85-87 Pts
2021 Poujeaux – Moulis en Médoc – Medium-bodied, soft, silky, fresh, sweet, and polished with a refined edge to the currants, tobacco leaf, and savory herbs on the mid-palate and in the finis. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release for all of its fruit and freshness. The wine blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, 13% ABV. Drink from 2023-2037. 89-91 Pts
2021 Preuillac – Médoc – Medium-bodied, fresh, and bright with a core of red currants, touches of cigar wrapper and tobacco leaf on the nose and in the chewy, crisp finish. Drink from 2023-2033. 88-90 Pts
2021 Rollan de By – Médoc – Round, forward, currant, and espresso-filled wine with an early-drinking, forward, fruity, oaky character. Drink from 2023-2028. 85-87 Pts
2021 Senejac – Haut-Médoc – Medium-bodied, fresh, forward, and fruity, with a light, red berry palate presence along with an earthy, savory touch in the red berry finish that will be best enjoyed in its youth. Drink from 2023-2031. 87-89 Pts
2021 Sociando-Mallet – Haut-Médoc – The nose kicks off with dark red currants, cigar wrapper, cedar, spice, and peppery herbs. The wine is medium/full-bodied with a core of bright, chewy, lively red fruits, earth, and herbs, leaving you with, crisp red berries in the endnote. This is a very good effort in this difficult vintage. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, Drink from 2025-2040. 89-91 Pts
2021 Tour-du-Haut-Moulin – Haut-Médoc – Forward, soft and fresh with a medium-bodied, red currant and red plum core of fruits, this will be best in its youth to maintain all of its sweet, fresh, red fruits. Drink from 2023-2028. 86-88 Pts
2021 Villa Carmin – Médoc – Forward, soft, round and fruity, there is a sweetness to bright, red currants that will be best to savor in its youth. Drink from 2023-2027. 83-85 Pts
Up next, we complete our coverage of the Left Bank with a detailed report on all the best 2021 Red and White, Pessac Leognan and Graves Wines before moving on to the Right Bank for detailed tasting note reports on all of the top 2021 St. Emilion and 2021 Pomerol wines.
