Puech Haut Prestige Rouge, Château Puech-Haut 2021

Leading off the reds, the 2021 Languedoc Prestige is 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and the rest Carignan, all aged a year in barrel. It has an up-front, fruit-driven perfume of mulberries, black raspberries, peppery herbs, and spicy, sandalwood, floral nuances. With medium-bodied richness, a lively, elegant mouthfeel, and both ripe tannins and nicely integrated acidity, this charming, impeccably made Languedoc will put a smile on your face any time over the coming 4-5 years, if not longer. It shows the more challenging nature of the vintage, but this is rock solid and well worth drinking.

This smells so good, so Languedoc, so compelling. It's pooling, plashy, sumptuous crimson fruit with mountain-stream mossy, ferny freshness. Far fresher than I ever remember this wine being – it really pulses with purity. Masses of fruit. Saturated with the juice of red cherries and raspberries, a fine balsamic underline, a handful of fine-ground clove and nutmeg. Tannins that feel like cashmere woven with tea leaves. Peppery finish, alive with energy. 2024-2029.