Château Beauregard 2021

Smells aromatic and fruity, lively and full of nuance, chocolate, menthol notes, fragranced dried flowers and liquorice touches and red fruits. Rich and well textured on the palate, juicy and alive. Nice purity and clarity to this, it has bite and a touch of high toned tangy red fruit to it, but it's lovely and light on its feet. Great body and character to this, enough fruit for sure, and well handled tannins. A really enjoyable glass with plenty going on. Still a touch tight but it's tension that gives energy rather than something being hidden. Very good. Flavour goes on and on, really lingers with cherry, liquorice and some minty touches. An upscore on Primeurs.

70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc. Intense bouquet, ripe wild strawberry, delicate roasted notes, Moroccan mint and light tobacco. On the complex palate with a silky texture, ripe extract, supporting freshness, ripe tannin framework and a straightforward body. In the focused, very long finish, red and blue berries, cardamom paired with an enticing milk-chocolate note. Overall, a refined seducer.

Spiced turmeric, cloves, blueberry, cassis, dark chocolate and cigar box. There is evident oak smoke, and this has charm and body through the mid-palate. Good for early to mid-term drinking, should comfortably age for 10 to 15 years.

A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Beauregard has a deep garnet-purple color. Notes of plum preserves and stewed blackberries hop from the glass, with underlying scents of Indian spices and mossy tree bark. Medium-bodied, with lightly chewy tannins, the palate has just enough fruit and a refreshing finish.

We must applaud the fine success of this 2021. You plunge into a soup of dark fruits, combined with sweet spices and papier d’Arménie. The palate shows just the right extraction, with precise tannins, a smooth, sapid flow, and thirst‑quenching freshness.

Next door, but separate from Château Beauregard, the clos is planted exclusively with Merlot. The wine is dense with its black-cherry aromas and jammy fruit. It is a dense wine, needing to age further. Drink from 2026.