MT Vins - Primeur tasting of the 2021 vintage

On 06/05/22

Primeur tasting of the 2021 vintage

A vintage with a challenging climate, requiring a relentless attention from the winemakers and a total technical mastery. The two banks are not in opposition to each other and reserve some nice surprises. Here is a retrospective in pictures of some selected tastings.

Château Giscours welcomed the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Classified Growths of the Margaux and Haut-Médoc Sud appellations, for the Primeurs 2021 tasting.

Tasting at Château Margaux, 1er Grand Cru Classé 1855. Thanks to the quality of the grapes and the work done, a high quality vintage was achieved, despite the climatology of the year 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon still constitutes the heart of Château Margaux and represents 87% of the Grand Vin. Blended with 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the wine is elegant and dense.

Tasting of the 2021 vintage at Château d'Issan, Grand Cru Classé in 1855. It is one of the oldest châteaux in the Médoc, dating from the 16th century, with a unique atmosphere. The blend of the 2021 vintage, 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, reveals a real balance between density and finesse of tannins.

For the 2021 Primeurs tasting, Château Lagrange welcomed the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Classified Growths of Saint-Julien, Listrac-Médoc and Moulis-en-Médoc appellations.

The 2021 vintage is characterized at Saint Julien by low yields but a high and homogeneous level of quality. Château Branaire-Ducru is a fine demonstration of this with Cabernet Sauvignon (66%) and Cabernet Franc (6.5%) with ripe and refined tannins that provide a nice length, harmoniously complemented by Merlot (22%) and Petit Verdot (5.5%).

Château Pichon Longueville welcomed the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Classified Growths of Pauillac, Saint Estèphe et Haut-Médoc.

We taste the 2021 vintage with Justine and Noé Tesseron at Château Pontet Canet, Pauillac Grand Cru Classé 1855. Despite the harsh climatic conditions, the biodynamic vineyard management since 2004 on this great terroir has once again offered a remarkable purity and quality of the 2021 vintage. The blend is composed of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot.

Presentation of the 2021 vintage at Château Montrose Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Estèphe. Produced under similar climatic conditions to 2014, the 2021 vintage reveals freshness and finesse of tannins. It asserts itself as a classic of the estate and and is one of the great successes of the vintage.

Tasting of the 2021 vintage at Château Cheval Blanc, Grand Cru Classé A of Saint-Emilion. The Cheval Blanc vineyard has remained faithful to its historical grape variety since 1911 with a high proportion of Cabernet Franc Also, its blend of 52% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon brings in this 2021 vintage a particular complexity and singularity.

Château Balestard La Tonnelle received the Saint-Emilion Grands Crus Classés of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux for the presentation of the 2021 vintage.

Tasting at Château Le Dome, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, owned by JCP Maltus. By choosing to blend proportionally 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, Château le Dome has produced a great 2021 vintage. The cellars, conceived by Jonathan Maltus and designed by English architect Norman Foster, offer a 360 degree view of the vineyard.