2021 St. Estephe as an appellation was reasonably consistent. While not at the level of other recent vintages, 2022, 2020, 2019 and 2018. across the board, there are some quite nice wines, especially considering the vintage. There is an argument to be made that Saint Estephe is perhaps the most homogenous appellation in the Left Bank this year. But, like all generalizations, that is far too simple in this vintage.
2021 Saint Estephe Growing Season and Harvest information.
After a rainy winter, even with close to 600 mm of rain, 2021 Saint Estephe still began the year with 15% less moisture than they experienced in 2020. After a warm, and sunny February, conditions changed rapidly in April with frost conditions on April 7 and 8. Vineyards not situated close to the water, or on the slopes experienced crop loss.
After a rapid but uneven flowering, the summer was relatively cool, and wet, which brought about risks of mildew. Things improved in mid-August which aided in vignerons were much happier at the potential of the vintage.
Across the board, 2021 Saint Estephe wines are easy-going, charming, medium-bodied, fresh, and savory at their best. Most of the wines can be enjoyed with just a modicum of aging. Vineyards located in more difficult terroirs produced wines that can be sharp, bright, and green.
All of the following 2021 Saint Estephe wines were tasted in my home office in non-blind conditions.
2021 Beau-Site – St. Estèphe – Cedar, peppery spices, herbs, tobacco leaf and currants show in the nose with little effort. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, chewy, vibrant, fresh and peppery, which adds to the red currant profile. Drink from 2024-2036. 90 Pts
2021 Calon Segur – St. Estèphe – This is an elegant, energetic, vibrant, lifted, almost high-toned, refined vintage here. The fruit expresses purity, lift, and refinement, meshed with classicism. The perfume intrigues you to know more with its flowers, tobacco leaf, cherries, spicy currants, espresso, and orange profile. The medium-bodied wine is forward, and should be approachable with just a few years of aging, which is a good thing, as this is already quite charming. The finish delivers a nice, spicy, minty, uplifted endnote. The wine was produced from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026-2055. 94 Pts
2021 Calon Segur Le Marquis de Calon Segur – St. Estèphe – Black cherries, licorice, spice, and smoky mint aromas hit the perfume. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, vibrant, fresh, and energetic with a savory, earthy, herbal-edged cherry tone that stays with you from the mid-palate through to the finish. This will be easy to enjoy on release, and for over the next decade. The wine is a blend of 58% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2024-2035. 91 Pts
2021 Capbern – St. Estèphe – A tiny hint of espresso, flowers, Indian spices, and bright, red fruits in the nose open the wine. Medium-bodied, soft, vibrant and crisp, the red fruits have sweetness, lift, energy and a tint of spice, with a sprig of refreshing mint that comes in at the end of the finish. This will drink well young. Drink from 2025-2038. 91 Pts
2021 La Commanderie – St. Estèphe – Mint leaf, cedar and red currants create the nose and the palate of this medium-bodied, forward, albeit simple, easy-drinking wine. Drink from 2024-2030. 87 Pts
2021 Cos Labory – St. Estèphe – With a floral edge to the nose, you also find black currants, tobacco leaf, smoke and cherries in the perfume. The medium-bodied palate is bright, with a salty, crushed stone accent to the chewy, firm, finish. Give it just a year or two before pulling a cork. Drink from 2025-2038. 90 Pts
2021 Cos dEstournel – St. Estèphe – Dried flowers, smoke, licorice, Indian spices, black cherries, plums, chocolate, and a hint of blue fruit shows up with ease in the perfume. The palate is the wine shines. Here, you find layers of supple, creamy ripe, black and red fruits, polished textures, creamy, soft tannins and a finish that builds and lingers with its waves if fruit and subtle, smoked herb note that comes in at the end of the finish. The wine was made from blending 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2055. 96 Pts
2021 Cos dEstournel Les Pagodes de Cos – St. Estèphe – Flowers, currants, espresso, cocoa, smoke and licorice fill the perfume. Medium-bodied, lifted, soft, elegant, and polished, the wine is up-beat, spicy and chalky on the palate with peppery, chocolate-accented currants that round out the finish. The wine blends 60% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2024-2040. 92 Pts
2021 Cos d’Estournel Blanc – Bordeaux – Bright, fresh and fruity with loads of sweet, ripe, green apples, lemons, grapefruit, and floral notes. The wine manages to remain vibrant with ample concentration, complexity and finishes with additional nuances of mango, pineapple and honeysuckle. You can enjoy this on release, though it will gain nuances with a few years in the bottle. Drink from 2024-2034. 95 Pts
2021 Cos dEstournel Pagodes de Cos Blanc – Bordeaux – With a focus on its flowers, green apple and yellow citrus, this is already drinking at close to peak, offering lift, energy and a nice blend of lemon and grapefruit from start to finish. Drink from 2024-2028. 91 Pts
2021 De Come – St. Estèphe – Fresh, bright, medium-bodied, red berry filled wine with a savory, herbal edge in the nose and on the light, easy-going palate. This is uncomplicated, but pleasant. Drink from 2024-2029. 88 Pts
2021 Domeyne – St. Estèphe – Flowers, cocoa, red and black currants and espresso nuances in the perfume get you interested. The palate is even better with its creamy, supple, red fruits and sweet, black cherries in the finish. You can enjoy on release. Drink from 2024-2037. 91 Pts
2021 Fleuron de Liot – St. Estèphe – Herbs, red berries and leafy tobacco notes create the core of this light, crisp, crunchy, red currant and cranberry oriented wine. Drink from 2024-2030. 84 Pts
2021 Graves de Pez – St. Estèphe – Spicy, herbal, red berries with tobacco accents open the wine. The wine is medium-bodied, forward, easy to drink and not overly complicated in the dusty, red currant finish. This is good-to-go on release. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Haut-Beausejour – St. Estèphe – Dried flowers, cedar, spice and bright red fruits adorn the perfume. On the palate, the wine is crisp, peppery, bright and spicy with a lot of freshness in the finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 89 Pts
2021 Haut Marbuzet – St. Estèphe – Espresso, peppery red fruits, smoke, licorice and spice aromatics pop in the nose. The palate is polished, round, medium-bodied, fruity and forward, with an espresso tinted accent that comes along with the cherries and currants in the finish. This is going to be easy to enjoy on release and over the next decade or a bit longer. Drink from 2025-2037. 91 Pts
2021 La Croix de Pez – St. Estèphe – Soft, bright, peppery, crisp red fruits in the nose and on the palate come with a sharp, leafy edge in the cranberry and red currant finish. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 La Haye – St. Estèphe – Cherries, currants and tobacco nuances open the wine. The medium-bodied palate is soft, crisp, fresh and vibrant with a raspberry and spicy currant finish. Drink from 2024-2036. 89 Pts
2021 Laffitte-Carcasset The Corsair – St. Estèphe – Red and black currants provide the backdrop of this soft, forward, fresh and fruity, early-drinking, pleasant wine. Drink from 2024-2028. 88 Pts
2021 Laffitte-Carcasset – St. Estèphe – Black and red cherries, currants, mint leaf and tobacco fill the perfume. The palate delivers sweet, soft, currants with a touch of peppery spice in an already approachable form. You can enjoy this with ease on release. Drink from 2024-2032. 90 Pts
2021 Lafon Rochet – St. Estèphe – Flowers, mint, espresso, tobacco leaf, herbs, currants, and black raspberries for the core of this medium-bodied, soft, energetic, wine. The palate is lively, with a leafy, herbal, peppery red currant endnote. This is the final vintage for the Tesseron family. Subsequent vintages will be produced by Jackie Lorenzetti, along with the team of Emmanuel Cruse, the new owner of the property. You can expect big things from this wine in the future. Drink from 2025-2040. 91 Pts
2021 Lafon Rochet Les Pelerins – St. Estèphe – Medium-bodied with a light, bright, fresh, core of savory, herb-tinted, crisp red fruits that will be best in its youth. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Le Boscq – St. Estèphe – Blackberries, spice, tobacco leaf, cherries, currants and flowers pop in the nose. The palate is even better with all of its chewy, fresh, black and red fruits, peppery spice, and leafy, savory accents. Drink from 2024-2038. 91 Pts
2021 Le Crock – St. Estèphe – Blackberries, flowers, cherries, spice, smoke, licorice, and black raspberries get the bouquet going. The palate is fresh, forward, soft, generous and medium-bodied with layers of sweet, ripe, spicy red fruits and a nice bite of savory-edged Cabernet in the polished finish. This will be simply delicious on release. Drink from 2024-2036. 91 Pts
2021 Lilian Ladouys – St. Estèphe – Bright red fruits, spice, flowers, black cherries and cocoa define the perfume. The palate is soft, polished, fresh, lively and loaded with black cherries, chalky tannins, chocolate and peppery spice in the round finish. The wine blends 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot. and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2040. 92 Pts
2021 Meyney – St. Estèphe – Flowers, cherries, espresso, mint, spice and smoke create the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, round, supple, fresh and forward, allowing to enjoy is sweet cherry and plum profile, with its peppery edge on release. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2040. 92 Pts
2021 Meyney Prieur de Meyney – St. Estèphe – Cherries, tobacco leaf, red currants and hint of spice work together here in the nose and on the medium-bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, red berry palate. You can enjoy this on release for its high-pitched, vibrant character. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Montrose – St. Estèphe – Blackberries, espresso, chocolate, dried flowers, black cherries and spice create the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is even better with its salty-edged red fruits, crushed rocks, spice and espresso with dark chocolate accented profile. Medium/full-bodied, energetic, classic, and classy, this is a vintage of Montrose that will not take decades to develop. Give it 3-4 years and this will be good to go. The wine was made from blending 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2028-2055. 95 Pts
2021 Montrose La-Dame-de-Montrose – St. Estèphe – Espresso. flowers, spice, wet earth, and cocoa with a hint of pepper fill up the perfume. The medium-bodied palate is soft, sweet, and vibrant, with a refreshing hint of orange, and black pepper that adds to the chocolate-accented cherries in the finish. Enjoy this while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. Drink from 2025-2037. 92 Pts
2021 Ormes-de-Pez – St. Estèphe – Flowers, truffle, smoke, cocoa and black cherry aromatics form the perfume. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, fresh and combines peppery red fruits with a shot of orange in the spicy finish. Drink from 2024-2038. 91 Pts
2021 Petit-Bocq – St. Estèphe – Flowers, mint, black cherries, black raspberries and cedar keep the perfume interesting. The palate is firm. fresh and chewy with sweetness, spice and energy in the fruits that carry through to the finish. Drink 2024-2038. 91 Pts
2021 De Pez – St. Estèphe – Espresso, flowers, cherries, smoke red plums and spice in the perfume gets you focused on the wine. On the palate, the wine is round, supple, fresh and creamy, with loads of sweet, ripe, red fruits with a savory edge, along with a touch of chocolate that shows up at the end of the finish. The wine blends 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2038. 91 Pts
2021 Phelan Segur – St. Estèphe – Black raspberries, chocolate, dried roses, spice and sweet black cherry aromatics bland together in the perfume. The palate is even better with all of its soft, sweet, fresh, polished, lively red fruits, spices, and dash of salty cocoa that pops in at the end of the finish. This should be quite enjoyable shortly after release. The wine blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, which is the highest percentage of Cabernet used in Phelan Segur. Drink from 2025-2040. 93 Pts
2021 Plantier Rose – St. Estèphe – Espresso and bright red fruits are about that’s going here in the nose and on the palate of this medium-bodied, high-pitched, cranberry and orange rind oriented crisp finish. Drink from 2024-2029. 84 Pts
2021 Saint-Corbin – St. Estèphe – High-pitched red currants, cranberry and orange notes are found in the nose and in the brisk, bright, cranberry oriented finish. Drink from 2024-2030. 85 Pts
2021 Tour de Pez – St. Estèphe – Espresso and red currants define the core and character of this medium-bodied, bright, crisp, chewy,, sweet, tart and fresh, high-toned wine. Drink from 2024-2032. 88 Pts
2021 Tour des Termes – St. Estèphe – Cedar, tobacco, red and back currants define the nose. On the palate, the wine is forward, medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh and spicy, with a nice sweetness to its red plum and currant oriented finish. Drink from 2024-2038. 91 Pts
2021 Tronquoy Lalande – St. Estèphe – Espresso, spice, flowers and black cherries are the name of the game in the perfume here. The black cherry theme continues on the palate along with an array of spices, with with a slight green-olive and peppery edge to the spicy fruit in the red berry packed finish. The wine blends 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2040. 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. We are wrapping up our vintage coverage with only a few appellations to go. Up Next, we are reporting on all the best 2021 Margaux wines followed by 2021 St. Julien and concluding with 2021 Pauillac.
