2023 Pessac Leognan has a lot to fans of the appellation. The reds have concentration, character, lift, and energetic, silky textures. The white wines offer freshness, energy, sweetness, and purity. Lower in alcohol than in previous years, there are several wines worth seeking out this year.
White Bordeaux wine needs cooler vintages than the red wines to preserve their freshness and vivacious, sweet fruits. That is what makes 2023 Bordeaux Blanc interesting, as the wines offer those unique characteristics. Plus, more producers are experimenting with non-traditional Bordeaux grapes, making some fun, and tasty new white wine blends!
2021 Pauillac focuses on purity, lift, and its energetic finish. Most of the wines are relatively forward, so wine lovers will not need to wait for decades to appreciate the wines, as many will drink just great with just a few years of aging. At their best, they will deliver classic Pauillac character for 2 decades or longer.
At their best, 2021 Margaux wines deliver flowery aromatics, freshness, bright, red fruits, purity, and elegance. The wines are lower in alcohol than we have seen over the past decade. The blends are also dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. Buyers should note that most 2021 Margaux wines will be delicious either on release, or with just a bit of aging.
2021 Saint Julien is one of the most consistent appellations of the vintage. At their best, the wines are perfect for lovers of classically-styled Bordeaux, focusing on refinement, complex aromatics, red fruits, freshness, and with lower levels of alcohol for elegant, early-drinking charm.
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. 2021 is not a vintage you need to lay down for years, many of these wines are going to delicious on release, or with just a few years in the cellar.
2021 Pessac Leognan was not an easy vintage, due to the challenges of the growing season, including attacks of frost, and mildew, and yet, there are several for good wines. The reds are soft, charming, and fresh, with lower alcohol levels than recent years, and the white wines are spectacular, including one wine scoring 100 Pts!
