Les Cruzelles 2021

Deep ruby colour with aromatic depths. Toasted oak, liqourice root, peach pit, tobacco, cocoa bean, blueberry. Delicate, well structured, fingers of peony on the finish, still with the reserve of the vintage that means the texture is less fleshy than in recent vintages of this wine. One to look out for, no need to wait too long, one of the few that I feel has improved over ageing. 50% new oak. Harvest September 23 and 27.

The 2021 Les Cruzelles is showing considerable promise, wafting from the glass with aromas of plums, sweet spices, wild berries and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, layered and impressively deep and concentrated, with lively acids and a saline finish, it's a terrific effort and as usual a benchmark for what is possible in Lalande-de-Pomerol. The 2021 is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc.

The 2021 Les Cruzelles has an attractive nose, the addition of the Cabernet Franc usually used in La Chenade imparting greater complexity: mainly black fruit, tar and graphite, with more red plum and mocha notes percolating through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine-boned entry and good acidity. Harmonious, with admirable weight on the finish endowed with a touch of sour cherry, this constitutes an elegant and poised Les Cruzelles that will mature well in bottle.

A blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc matured in 50% new oak barrels, the 2021 Les Cruzelles shows a dark, wild bouquet with aromas of cherries, iris, dark wild berries and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly juicy and fleshy, it’s seamless and fresh with a layered texture and powdery tannins. This well-made, forward, balanced beauty will drink well right out of the gate. Drink Date: 2024 - 2034