Château Olivier 2021

Direct, with black cherry, savory and tobacco notes, revealing an iron twinge on the finish. Very modest in scale, but without the vintage's grain or herbaceous austerity, so technically a success. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now. 9,000 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.

Grippy and tangy, with a lovely initial fruit expression, juicy with clean just-ripe raspberry, strawberry and cherry – really quite fun, lifted and pure. It does become fairly dry towards the finish, ending on a black tea, slightly salty note. The two elements aren’t quite in harmony yet and need a bit more time to settle.

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Deeply coloured with unusually ripe aroma in this vintage, yet still slightly herbaceous. Taut, dry, yet balanced with light, fine tannins and a light body. (JH)

The 2021 Olivier is missing a little clarity on the nose, perhaps simpler than expected from when I tasted en primeur: tertiary notes, forest floor and black tea. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fresh and sapid, though I feel it needs more flesh on the bones toward the finish. Drink it over the next decade.

Soft, forward, fresh, early-drinking, easy to like, simple, refined, a cherry-filled charmer. Perfect for easy, near-term pleasure. Drink from 2024–2029.

Dark garnet with purple hues at the rim. Fine noble wood savouriness, dark wild berries, hints of blueberries and nougat. Medium-bodied, red cherry fruit, elegant tannins, fresh and accessible, medium length and complexity.

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2021 Château Olivier has rock-solid black fruits as well as some scorched earth, tobacco, and lead pencil-driven aromas and flavors. Nicely balanced and medium-bodied, with good mid-palate depth and length, it's an outstanding wine that will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and drink beautifully over the following decade.

This wine really impressed me En Primeur and it continues to do so in bottle. Juicy blueberry and raspberry fruit, with orange peel, pomegranate, slate and tobacco leaf. Subtle, controlled, finessed smoked spice on the finish. Could benefit from more mid-palate expansion, as is true for most of the vintage, but it delivers Pessac Léognan balance and enjoyment. 40 hl/ha yield.

The 2021 Olivier has a deep garnet-purple color. It features fragrant notes of lilacs and underbrush, with redcurrant jelly and blackberries at the core. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing and peppery, with a soft texture and a savory finish.

A savory, intriguing, very fresh nose of black olive and rosemary. On the palate, finesse and precision, lovely salinity and elegant tannins. Promising.

A touch reserved, the bouquet of Olivier 2021 reveals itself sparingly through nuances of blackberry and blackcurrant. It gains definition with a bit of aeration. With good density, the wine shows somewhat angular tannins. It needs time to open up.

Dark, deep color. Lovely, intense nose with pure fruit, becoming more refined as the glass is swirled. This cru has opted for softness in the blend, and it works beautifully. For now, the density remains moderate, but the pleasure is high. Finish with a beautiful licorice note reminiscent of cabernet sauvignon. Care and precision continue in this cru. Blend: 55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 5% petit verdot. Alcohol: 13.1%. Yield: 40 hl/ha.

This estate owned by the Berthmann family and surrounding their medieval castle, has produced a finely textured, juicy wine. It shows the freshness of the vintage while having a fine backbone of tannins. The wine needs time, drink from 2027.