Chateau Faugeres 2021

Ripe-fruited nose showing figs, raisins, and both red and dark berries. On the palate, good body with ripe-fruit aromas again, slightly drying tannins, finishing fresher than the nose suggests.

Soft but fresh, with gentle violet and plum notes carried by a silky structure, ending with light tobacco and apple wood accents. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2027. 6,050 cases made.

Bright and mineral, this has a good combination of creamy yet juicy strawberry and raspberry fruit with wet-stone salinity on the palate, the two playing a push-pull for dominance but supported by fine, fairly direct tannins. I like the clarity here—there’s no frills or hiding—and I like its classic nature.

Cask sample. Dark and meaty. Initially juicy, then firm and dry. Drying texture and tannins with a chewy finish. Too much extraction for the vintage? (JL)

Licorice, cocoa, spice, espresso and black cherries line up in the perfume. The palate, with its layers of creamy-textured black cherries and chocolate accents, is polished and fresh. Drink from 2024–2037.

Dark ruby core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicately herbal aromas, red-berried fruit, red cherries and hints of tobacco. Juicy, elegant, ripe plums on the palate with fresh acidity and a touch of sweetness on the finish. Good with food.

The 2021 Château Faugeres brings a terrific sense of richness and depth paired with the classic, fresher style of the vintage. Ripe red and black cherries, leather, scorched earth, and graphite all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, with a pure, elegant mouthfeel and outstanding length.

Playful bouquet, ripe raspberry, seductive lilac notes, red currant jelly and lingonberry juice. On the generous palate with a soft texture, wonderful extract richness, lively, well-supporting acidity and a tightly woven tannin framework. In the focused finish, red-berry contours, dark graphite and a grainy astringency.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 hl/ha, production 80,000 bottles) Fruity, silky, fresh, powerful bouquet with raspberry, strawberry, mint, delicate nougat and fine herbal notes. Refined, elegant, fragrant and finely fruity palate with concentrated, precise fruit, very good tannins, a fresh, layered and expressive aromatic profile, and a long, vigorous finish with sweet aftertastes.

Deep ruby colour, more concentrated than many in the vintage, clear oak character, the grilled sandalwood and tar that I found En Primeur, has good lift and precision, white truffle, raspberry fruits, but a little tart and austere overall. Silvio Denz owner, 50% new oak. Grand Cru Classé since 2012.

The 2021 Faugères has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It offers earthy notions of tilled soil, tar, and fallen leaves, giving way to a core of baked plums, anise, and black cherry preserves. The medium-bodied palate has beautiful fine-grained tannins and well-knit freshness supporting the elegant black fruit layers, finishing savory.

A very classic nose, balanced between fruit and the freshness of a morning mist. The oak is more pronounced on the palate, but the substance is elegant, fresh, with a lovely energy that envelops the palate.

The terroir clearly expresses itself through chalky nuances, as does the style focused on ripe black berries such as elderberry and blackberry, while mint notes provide freshness. Slightly creamy, the wine stands out for its harmony and the precision of its tannins. These have gained in velvety texture during élevage and will be a valuable asset for the years, even decades, to come. The acid structure is of course also an important contributor to ageing potential. A marathon runner and a fine success, far more expressive than during en primeur… (and that’s better than the opposite!)

The nose is fruity, offering a touch of elegance and a lovely fine grain. It reveals notes of juicy/ripe blackcurrant, bright black cherry and, more subtly, fairly ripe red berries, combined with delicate touches of black tea/bergamot as well as fine hints of nutmeg, sweet spices and a subtle hint of saffron. The palate is fruity and offers minerality, juiciness, indulgence, a light tangy backbone, tension, harmonious texture, delicacy, a slight tension and a subtle graphite/pencil note. On the palate, this wine shows notes of fleshy/juicy dark berries, fairly ripe blackcurrant and, more subtly, fairly ripe raspberry, combined with touches of violet and nutmeg, with fine hints of bergamot/black tea, as well as a discreet hint of pepper and licorice. Savory sapid finish/persistence. Tannins are discreetly marked. Good length.

Founded in 1618, this estate is on the slopes to the east of Saint-Émilion. This latest release, with its toast and red-cherry aromas, is densely structured. Blackberry fruits align with the tannins and a succulent texture to give balance, ripeness and fine potential. Drink from 2027.