2021 Pessac Leognan produced several outstanding white wines as well as high quality red wines. But, clearly, it is not a year where you can purchase wines blindly. It is a vintage where terroir, and producer mattered.
With Pessac Leognan, there are vintages when the red wine grapes are much better than the white Bordeaux wine grapes. In other years, it is the reverse, favoring the white wines, over the reds. And, while it does not happen often enough, there are of course vintages when red wines and white wines are both beautiful. 2021 Pessac Leognan is not one of those years. Clearly, with 2021, the white wines are better, and in fact, they can be stunning!
What makes Pessac Leognan so complicated is that vintages can be too warm for white wine grapes, and not warm enough for the red wine grapes.
For the white wines of 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, one wine Bordeaux Blanc received 100 Pts this year!
2021 Pessac Leogonan red wines are more mixed. Here, you find a diverse array of styles and quality levels. But, they all share a few attributes, early drinkability, earthy, spicy, savory accents, lower alcohol levels than found in the past several vintages, and at their best, an easy-going charm.
Much of what was needed to produce 2021 Pessac Leognan took place in the vineyards, where growers had to ward off multiple attacks frost in April and May, as well as contend with outbreaks of mildew that developed from the early-summer storms drenching the region.
In the cellars, things were not easy there as well as many vignerons chaptalized as they needed to bring up their sugar levels by .5 to 1% for varying portions of their harvest. Some wines lacked density, so vignerons used the saignée technique of bleeding vats to increase the concentration in the wines as well as reverse osmosis. So, as you can see, 2021 Pessac Leognan was not an easy vintage produce.
But by the end of August, the weather took turned around with the warm, sun of an Indian Summer, and the vintage was saved. Vignerons began picking white wine grapes between the end of August, and early September. Harvesting for the red wines started between late September and in early October, finishing in most cases, by the middle of October.
Yes, as you can see from my tasting notes, even with all the challenges of the year, there are several fine red, and especially white wines that are worth tasting.
All of the following 2021 Pessac Leognan and Graves Red and White wines were tasted in my home office in non-blind tasting conditions.
2021 Bouscaut – Pessac-Léognan – Medium bodied, soft, fresh, spicy, smoky, earthy and fresh, there is lift, energy and ample tobacco notes riding on top of the refined, elegant, sweet, cherries with a nice touch of cocoa powder on the back end, along with some minty freshness making this an interesting, pleasurable wine to taste as soon as it hits the stores It will age for 12-15 years too. Drink from 2024-2038. 91 Pts
2021 Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, white peach, orange rind, ginger, spice and pineapples get the wine going in the nose, and in the fresh, energy-driven, spicy, citrus-packed, gingery palate, that lingers in the finish. This is good to go on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 92 Pts
2021 Bouscaut Les Chenes de Bouscaut – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, leafy herbs, underbrush and crisp red berries form the core of this soft, energetic, medium-bodied, forward, early-drinking wine. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Bouscaut Les Chenes de Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, orange, lemons and a touch of green apple form the nose and the palate here. The wine is sweet, lifted and ready to go for early, uncomplicated, drinking pleasure. Drink from 2024-2028. 88 Pts
2021 Brondelle – Graves – ight in color and light in fruit, the wine is quite bright, with a tart, herbal character that is best for early drinking. Drink from 2024-2028. 84 Pts
2021 Brondelle Blanc – Graves – Grapefruit, oranges and freshly cut lawn grass pop in the nose. The palate offers freshness, crisp yellow citrus and honeysuckle with a touch of spice. Drink from 2024-2027. 88 Pts
2021 Cantelys Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Orange, grapefruit, spice, cucumber, and flowers are all over the place here in the nose as well as in the lively, racy palate. This is a well-priced, white Bordeaux that really hits the spot, blending 50% Sauvignon Blanc with 50% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2030. 92 Pts
2021 Cantelys Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, soft, fresh, floral and chewy, with a focus on its cherries, cocoa and savory, herb-tinted, minty characteristics in the nose and on the palate. You can enjoy this with ease on release. Drink from 2024-2031. 89 Pts
2021 Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, grapefruits, lemon, green apples, spice and white peaches come through with ease in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is zesty, citrusy, brisk and racy with ranges, pineapples, sea salt, and crushed stones that linger in the finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 93 Pts
2021 Carbonnieux La Croix de Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, lemon and orange rind create the nose. The palate is energetic, and lively, with a pomelo filled finish balancing its freshness and and yellow citrus fruits. Drink from 2024-2028. 89 Pts
2021 Carbonnieux La Croix de Carbonnieux Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Soft, forward, medium-bodied, savory, herb-tinted, sharp red fruits with a touch of salty, chalk in the finish is what you find here in this ready-to-go wine. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Carbonnieux Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – A dash of cocoa, smoke, flowers, tobacco and sweet red fruits create the perfume. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is soft, vibrant, supple, and spicy with loads of salty, sweet, black cherries and peppery currants with another dash of cocoa to everything up nicely in the finish. The wine blends 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2024-2037. 92 Pts
2021 Les Carmes HautBrion – Pessac-Léognan – With a spicy, savory edge to the red fruits in the nose, you also find a plethora of singed herbs, cigar wrapper, flowers, and cedar in the perfume. The red fruits on the palate are fresh, vibrant, elegant, refined, and salty, almost as if the berries were brined. The long finish has a hint of cocoa, chalk, oyster shells, and savory-tinted red fruits, with olives that come in on the up-beat, backend. 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. 96 Pts
2021 Le C des Carmes Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – A different wine than the Grand Vin, as it comes from a specific vineyard in Leognan, instead of Pessac, the wine opens with flowers, tobacco leaf, cherries, orange rind, and hickory smoke. On the palate, the wine is fresh, energetic, crisp, and sweet, with crunchy red fruits with a touch of salty chalk, and spice on the backend. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2024-2039. 93 Pts
2021 Carrosse Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Underbrush, savory herbs, red fruits and a touch of smoked cedar create the nose. The light, bright, crisp palate is short, lean and piquant. This is fully ready to go. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Carrosse Martillac L’Equipage – Pessac-Léognan – Light, bright, almost tart, high-toned, herbal, peppery fruits show in the nose and on the palate. The angular, dusty finish is abrupt. This will be at its best over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2027. 84 Pts
2021 Cerons – Graves – Leafy herbs and red fruits combine in the nose. On the palate, the wine is bright, crisp and fresh, with an herbal edge which works well for this early-drinking, uncomplicated wine. Drink from 2024-2029. 85 Pts
2021 Cerons Blanc – Graves – Grapefruits, white peach and green apples on the nose and palate with a nice, crisp, bite of lemon in the finish. Drink from 2024-2028. 87 Pts
2021 Chateau Olivier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, green pears, white flowers, spice, yellow with orange citrus peel aromas fill the perfume. The palate is sweet, vibrant, fresh, and fruity with a long, graceful blast of lemons in the finish. The wine blends 80% Sauvignon Blanc with 20% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2033. 93 Pts
2021 ChateauOlivier Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, fresh, elegant, refined, floral and already expressing its sweet, red fruits, tobacco and spearmint filled character, this is going to offer a charming tasting experience not long after the wine has been released. There is a sweetness, roundness and purity to the fruit on the mid-palate and in the finish that I like a lot. The wine is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2024-2036. 90 Pts
2021 Clos Marsalette Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, white flowers, green apples, vanilla, orange and spice nuances blend together to create perfume as well as the fresh, creamy, yellow, citrus-filled palate. The wine blends 60% Sauvignon Blanc with 40% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2029. 92 Pts
2021 Clos Marsalette Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, with a core of smoky, minty, floral-accented, red fruits in the nose and on the palate. The wine is soft, semi-polished, vibrant and spicy, as well as ready-to-go on release. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – It takes just a bit of swirling to find all of the green apples, orange rind, guava, pineapple, mango and white peaches in the nose and palate. Long, electric, fresh and delicious, this racy gem keeps on going long after the wine has left the glass. This could be the best white wine produced in the history of Couhins. Drink from 2024–2032. 94 Pts
2021 Couhins Lurton – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, flowers, tobacco, and black currants pop in the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and bright, with a crisp edge to the spicy red berries in the finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 91 Pts
2021 Cruzeau – Pessac-Léognan – Smokey cherries, tobacco leaf and underbrush form the nucleus here. Medium-bodied, in-fact, it is almost light in weight on the palate leaves you with spicy, tart red fruits in the finish. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Cruzeau Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Orange rind, white peach, honeysuckle and spice with a bright, and sweet edge for near-term, well-priced enjoyment. Drink from 2024-2029. 88 Pts
2021 De Fieuzal – Pessac-Léognan – Black cherries, flowers, chocolate, tobacco and raspberries form the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is soft, polished, fresh, elegant, and charming, finishing with sweetness to the red fruits, with a dash of cocoa that lingers from the mid-palate through to the finish. While easy to enjoy on release, this also has the ability to age, and evolve for 12-15 years. Drink from 2024-2038. 92 Pts
2021 De Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Orange rind, flowers, honeysuckle, yellow citrus, lemon peel, spice and grapefruit aromas get you focused on the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, vibrant, slightly chalky, and packed with candied oranges, white peaches. Drink from 2024-2034. 92 Pts
2021 De-France – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, elegant, refined, sweet and frankly, pretty, the fruits offer purity and elegance on the mid-palate and in the finish. This is quite successful for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2034. 91 Pts
2021 Domaine de Chevalier – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, energetic, soft, elegant, and refined, this is a beautiful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Texturally, this is where the wine shines with its silky qualities blended with ample lift, purity and freshness. This is quite an accomplishment for any vintage, but with the challenging 2021, it is really saying something! 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. The is the first vintage that was produced being 100% biodynamic in the vineyards, thus, yield were quite low.. Drink from 2025-2050. 95 Pts
2021 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fans of white Bordeaux wine need to be all over this gem. One sniff, and sip, and you are hooked. I do not know where to start. Complete in every way, the wine kicks off with a nose that explodes with its orange rind, honeysuckle, lemon puree, flowers, green apples, spice, and herbs. As striking as that was, it is the incredible purity in the endless waves of citrus, and yellow tropical fruits that seal the deal. From there, the only thing left is the electric, seamless finish that once it gets started, it doesn’t want to quit. This gem competes with many of the worlds great wines, and it sells for a fraction of what they sell for. The wine blends 75% Sauvignon Blanc, and 25% Semillon. This is the best white wine ever produced by the Bernard family at Domaine de Chevalier. Don’t miss it! Drink from 2024-2050. 100 Pts
2021 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, flowers, lemons, limes and grapefruit scents create the perfume. The palate is even better with its waxy, yellow citrus characteristics. Drink from 2024-2030. 92 Pts
2021 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Much better in the bottle than when tasted in barrel, this charmer is loaded with tobacco, black cherries, black raspberries, flowers and cocoa. Soft, fresh, elegant, and loaded with sweet, ripe, creamy red fruits, this is frankly delicious and will be a treat for at least a decade or more. This is one of the top values in Pessac Leognan today. Drink from 2024-2034. 91 Pts
2021 Domaine de la Solitude Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White flowers, orange rind, green apples, lemon custard and spice pop in the nose. The palate is even better with all of its bright, crisp, juicy, sweet, crisp yellow citrus, and white peaches. Drink from 2024-2030. 91 Pts
2021 Domaine de la Solitude Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, espresso, cocoa, spice and red berry aromatics dominate the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, soft, polished, refined and forward, leaving you with sweet, black raspberries, plums, cherries , chalk and a refreshing sprig of mint leaves. This will drink well on release and provide pleasure for more than a decade. Drink from 2024-2045. 91 Pts
2021 Ferrande – Graves – Flowers, tobacco leaves, currants and spice create the perfume. The wine is forward, spicy, brisk and delivers a savory, herbal edge with a touch of citrus in the red berry finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2024-2030. 89 Pts
2021 Ferrande Blanc – Graves – Zesty yellow citrus, with a dab of honey and loads of crisp lemons with a squirt of pineapples on the palate that is perfect for near-term enjoyment. Drink from 2024-2028. 90 Pts
2021 Guiteronde – Pessac-Léognan – Leafy herbs and cherries form the core of this medium-bodied, soft, forward, early-drinking, uncomplicated, but quite pleasant charmer. This is a super Bordeaux Value wine that sells for about $10. Drink from 2024-2028. 86 Pts
2021 Haut Bailly – Pessac-Léognan – Dark garnet in color, the wine is equally dark aromatically with its nuances of smoky black cherries, blackberries, cocoa, cigar box, flowers and black plums. On the palate, the wine is focused on its chewy, black cherries, chalk, spicy black raspberries, cocoa and spice. Texturally, the wine offers an exotic, sensuous, elegant quality that I really like. It separates Haut Bailly from all the other wines I tasted. The wine is probably always going to be a bit reticent in character, so, allow it a few years in the cellar, and some time in the decanter as well. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot ,and 3% Cabernet Franc, representing the highest percentage of Petit Verdot in the history of the estate. 2021 is the first vintage produced in their new, state-of-the-art cellars. Drink from 2026-2055. 95 Pts
2021 Haut Bailly II – Pessac-Léognan – Black cherries, espresso, flowers and a dash of cocoa pop create the aromatic profile. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, sweet, soft and elegant, with a focus on its refined character and lift in the finish. 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 2024-2035. 91 Pts
2021 Haut-Bacalan – Pessac-Léognan – Blanding smoke, cocoa, espresso and red fruits produces the nose. The palate is even better with its refined, sweet black cherry and espresso notes, which get better once the hint of chocolate on the backend kicks in. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Haut-Lagrange – Pessac-Léognan – Soft, fresh, early-drinking, elegant charmer with sweetness to the fruits, soft-textures and a chalky, cocoa-infused, dark cherry finish. Drink from 2023-2032. 89 Pts
2021 Haut-Lagrange Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, flowers, lemons and orange peel fragrances create the perfume. The vibrant palate focuses on its yellow citrus, with a touch of honeysuckle that comes in at the end of the finish. This should be delicious on release. Drink from 2024-2029. 90 Pts
2021 La Garde – Pessac-Léognan – Tobacco leaf, mint, red fruits and just a hint of coffee beans open the nose here. On the palate, the wine is soft, polished, fruity and already a pleasure to taste. Drink from 2024-2032. 91 Pts
2021 La Garde Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Crisp pomelo, lemon, and lime notes are all over the place here, in the nose and on the racy, palate. I like the touch of honey that slides in at the back of the finish. Drink from 20234-2029. 92 Pts
2021 La Louviere – Pessac-Léognan – Black currants, tobacco, savory herbs and cigar box aromas pop from the glass. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is vibrant, fresh and energetic, with a savory edge, and olive accents that show in the elegant, albeit dusty finish. Drink from 2024-2040. 92 Pts
2021 La Louviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White peaches, apple pears, honeysuckle, vanilla beans, waxy lemons and flowers in the nose set you up perfectly for the racy acidity on the palate, which is the perfect backdrop for all the sweet, fresh, and pure citrus, and crunchy, green apples that linger. Drink from 2024-2035. 94 Pts
2021 La-Tour-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, green apples, vanilla, lemon curd, and pineapple create the enticing perfume. Racy, vibrant yellow white citrus with white peaches, and tangerines fill the palate, and range long, crisp finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 94 Pts
2021 La-Tour-Martillac Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Elegant, fresh, refined, spicy, sweet and vibrant, the wine focuses on its lift, energy and soft-textured fruits. There is a hint of salt and sprig of mint that comes in at the end of the finish adding complexity and character. Showing better from the bottle than it did in the barrel, this will drink well just about on release. Drink from 2025-2040. 92 Pts
2021 Lagrave Martillac Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – lowers, leafy tobacco notes, cedar, smoke and cherries pop in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is soft, medium-bodied, forward and fresh with an easy-going, temperament, finishing with peppery, black raspberries. Enjoy this on the young side. Drink from 2024-2030. 89 Pts
2021 Larrivet Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, cigar box, cocoa, flowers and black cherries permeate the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, lifted, medium-bodied, elegant, and refined, finishing with sweet, ripe, cherries, and red plums with a sprig of chocolate mint that shows up on the backend. The wine is made from 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2042. 93 Pts
2021 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Waxy lemon peels, green apples, spice, vanilla, orange peel, and lemon curd aromas pop in the nose. On the palate, the wine is loaded with sweet, ripe, pineapples, tangerines, lemons, and white peach skins, all wrapped up in a nice, racy bow. Drink from 2024-2034. 93 Pts
2021 Latour Martillac Lagrave Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Vanilla, white flowers, green apples, and yellow citrus fruits with a dab of honeysuckle create the nose and palate of this easy to like, vibrant, upbeat wine. Enjoy this for its early-drinking, yellow fruits over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2028.. 85 Pts
2021 Le Thil Comte Clary – Pessac-Léognan – Soft, fresh, creamy, sweet red fruits with a round edge on the palate are made even better by the perfumed nose, with all of its flowers, tobacco, cherries and light touch of cocoa. This is going to be quite easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Le-Pape – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, tobacco leaf, Indian spices and currants are introduced in the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky, fresh vibrant with focus on its black raspberries, red plums and cherries. This will be gorgeous to enjoy on release. The wine blends 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the last vintage of Le Pape. The vines are now incorporated into Chateau Haut Bailly. Drink from 2024-2038. 90 Pts
2021 Leognan – Pessac-Léognan – Dusty red fruits, cedar, mint leaf and bright, peppery currants in the nose and on the light, bright, palate define the wine. While uncomplicated, it is easy to drink and will be ready to go once it hits the stores. Drink from 2024-2030. 88 Pts
2021 Lespault-Martillac Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, espresso, cocoa, cherries and spearmint aromatics get the wine moving in the nose. The medium-bodied, fresh palate is even better with all of its soft, polished, sweet, red cherries, black plums, and vibrant black raspberries. This has really improved after its barrel aging. Drink from 2024-2035. 92 Pts
2021 Luchey-Halde – Pessac-Léognan – Forward, soft, medium-bodied, light-styled wine with an earthy note to its gentle, red berry core of fruits. This is going to be at its best over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Malartic Lagraviere – Pessac-Léognan – Cherries, flowers, tobacco, smoke, and show in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant, and crisp with brightness, lift and energy that shows in the dusty red fruits along with spearmint, and a hint of cocoa that shines at the end of the finish. With the 2021 vintage, things changed at Malartic Lagraviere when they brought in Eric Boissenot as their new consultant, You can easily taste the major shift in the style of wine being produced that is exacerbated by the vintage conditions. The wine blends 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2040. 92 Pts
2021 Malartic Lagraviere Le Comte de Malartic – Pessac-Léognan – Bright, crisp red berries, flowers, cranberries and a touch of tobacco leaf make the perfume. The medium-bodied palate is bright and vibrant, finishing with light, clean, savory, restrained, peppery, red pit fruits. Le Comte de Malartic is the new name for the second wine of Malartic Lagraviere. Drink from 2024-2029. 88 Pts
2021 Mejean – Graves – Light in color, the touch of spice adds to the soft-textured, bright, red berries and espresso core here. You can enjoy this with ease on release and over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2028. 87 Pts
2021 Olivier Le Dauphin d’ Olivier – Pessac-Léognan – Soft, forward, fresh, early-drinking, easy-to-like, simple, refined, cherry filled charmer. This is perfect for easy, near-term pleasure. Drink from 2024-2029. 88 Pts
2021 Pape Clement – Pessac-Léognan – Chocolate, espresso, smoke, black cherries, blackberries and flowers create the attention-seeking perfume. On the palate, the wine round, supple and deep with layers of creamy, dark chocolate-tinted plums, cherries, licorice, smoke, and espresso. Concentrated, but seemingly less so than in previous vintages, the wine is almost reserved in style, which is due to the vintage, as well as to stylistic opportunities, and choices. Drink from 2025-2050. 94 Pts
2021 Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemon meringue, white pepper, orange rind, white flowers, pineapples, white peaches and tangerine skins produce the attention-seeking perfume. The palate, which is filled with sweet, ripe, lush, and most importantly, vivid, energy-driven fruits is even better. From beginning, this is a fabulous white Bordeaux, with a racy finish. This is my favorite vintage of their white wine ever produced Drink from 2024-2040. 97 Pts
2021 Pape Clement Clementin de Pape Clément – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, espresso and a touch of spice accompany the red berry filled nose. The palate is light, sweet and fresh, with a coffee note that accompanies the cherries in the finish. This is already easy to enjoy, so pop a cork when you see a bottle. Drink from 2023-2030. 88 Pts
2021 Portets – Graves – With a touch of smoke to add complexity to the sweet, cherries, the wine is medium-bodied, bright, crisp and firm, with a sharp, red currant and cranberry finish. You can drink this on release and over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2028. 86 Pts
2021 Rahoul – Graves – Underbrush, smoke, cherries and leafy herbs create the nose. The palate has a nice spicy edge to its medium-bodied, chalky, red currant profile. Drink from 2024-2030. 88 Pts
2021 Respide – Graves – Light, early-drinking, easy-going, soft charmer that exchanges complexity for early drinkability. This is best for near term enjoyment. Drink from 2024-2028. 87 Pts
2021 Rochemorin – Pessac-Léognan – Underbrush, spice, and cherries with a dash of spice form the nose. The medium-bodied, elegant, palate delivers a nice layer of sweet, spicy and fresh cherries. This is quite nice for the vintage. Drink it over its first decade of life for all its charm and freshness. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Rochemorin Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, grapefruit and white peach surrounded by floral notes starts off this attractive white wine. The palate is even better with its crisp edge to the juicy lemons. Drink from 2024-2029. 90 Pts
2021 Rouillac – Pessac-Léognan – Chocolate, cherries and smoke form the core of this forward, soft, medium-bodied, easy-to-drink, and easy-to-like wine. This is going to best in its youth, so enjoy it over the next 5 years or so. Drink from 2024-2029. 88 Pts
2021 Seguin – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, tobacco, red fruits and coffee bean aromatics pop in the nose. The medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and fruity, elegant-palate gets better with its light touch of citrus, and raspberries. Drink 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – Black cherries, orange rind, plums, flowers, blackberries, tobacco and smoke filled aromas get your focus with little effort. There is a richness to the wine due to all of its chocolate, licorice, cherries, and currants. The finish combines salty oceanic influences, dark chocolate, citrus, licorice, chalk, and savory fruits, with chocolate in the lingering, dusty finish. I sense this could be even better with a few years of bottle age. A large part of the success with the 2021 vintage here is the concentration that comes from yields of only 22 hectoliters per hectare. Blending 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2050. 95 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White flowers, green apples, pineapple, vanilla beans, lemon chiffon, pears, and orange blossoms fill the nose. On the palate, the wine is perfectly balanced between its wealth of perfectly ripe, sweet, opulent fruits, and its racy acidities. The lingering finish is all about its purity in the lemon edged fruits, crushed rocks and stones and edgy textures. The wine blends 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2040. 98 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – Oyster shell, smoke, currants, cherries and tobacco leaves create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, elegant, vibrant and chewy, with a nice, spicy edge to the crisp, savory red berries in the mid-palate that carry all the way through to the mildly salty finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Drink from 2024-2036. 91 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Vanilla, waxy lemons, green apples, flowers, honeysuckle, and yellow with orange citrus, this is just great. The wine is sweet, pure, racy, and fresh with a chalky-textured, grapefruit finish. Pop a cork on this beauty as soon as it hits the stores as this is already a treat in your glass! Drink from 2024-2031. 93 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith – Pessac-Léognan – Black cherries, smoke, licorice, chocolate and mint nuances are found in the nose. Medium-bodied, fresh, spicy, chewy red fruits with touches of smoke, chocolate and peppery spices are all over the mid-palate and in the finish. The wine blends 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, pineapples, white peach, tangerine, and grapefruit with a dab of honey i what you will experience in the nose and on the vibrant, crisp, racy, bright, chalky palate. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2024-2029. 92 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 all of the best wines tasted in bottle from the 2021 Bordeaux vintage. Up next, we are on the way to completing our 2021 Bordeaux in bottle reports with a return to the Left Bank with daily reports on all the best 2021 Saint Estephe wines, 2021 Pauillac, 2021 St. Julien, and 2021 Margaux wines.
