Château Larmande 2021

The 2021 Larmande has turned out well in bottle, wafting from the glass with notes of raspberries, rose petals and plums, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and suave palate that's layered and seamless, with a vibrant and enveloping core of fruit, ripe tannins and a perfumed finish.

The 2021 Larmande has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry and wild strawberry fruit, black pepper and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. There’s nothing complex here, but it's fresh with a fine bite on the finish. This isn’t a memorable Saint-Émilion, though it handles the challenging vintage well.

Dried flowers, red fruits, licorice, and spice define both the nose and palate. The wine is soft, forward, medium-bodied, with a core of bright, crisp red berries and apples. Ready to drink upon release. Drink from 2024–2035.

Dark garnet with a narrow purple rim. Red cherries and wild berries, herbal-spicy notes and tobacco in the background. Medium-bodied, fine cherry fruit, discreet tannins, somewhat loosely knit; offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure.

Based on 73% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Château Larmande offers a terrific nose of ripe red and blue fruits as well as some sappy, herbal, floral nuances. With obvious minerality, medium-bodied richness, and a fine, elegant, finesse-driven profile on the palate, this satisfying 2021 will evolve for 10-12 years. I love it even today, yet don't be afraid to give it plenty of air.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (91% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19 hl/ha, 13% vol. alcohol, production 35,000 bottles) Herbal, restrained bouquet, strawberries, old wood, herbs. Firm, light palate with good fruit, sandy tannins, light aromatics, bourgeois structure, light finish.

(91% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19 hl/ha, 13% alc. vol., production 35,000 bottles) Herbal, restrained bouquet, strawberries, old wood, herbs. Firm, light palate with good fruit, sandy tannins, light aromatics, bourgeois structure, light finish. 16/20 2026 - 2038

There is fruit here, and some fresh acidity that gives a mouthwatering finish, but it struggles with overall ripeness. Véronique Corporandy consultant. A low yield of 19 hl/ha, limestone and clay-sand terroir, 40% new oak barrels for ageing. Tasted twice.

A blend of 91% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Larmande is deep garnet-purple in color. It rolls out with fragrant scents of rose oil and kirsch, followed by suggestions of black raspberries and fallen leaves. The medium-bodied palate is plush, bright, and perfumed, with a lively line and a fruity finish.

Clean and bright on the nose, like a refreshing breath of mountain air, scented with small wild berries that grow at altitude. On the palate, the fruit is immaculate, crystalline, with striking clarity. The finish unfolds on delicious mocha notes.

Larmande 2021 shines with its diversity and subtlety. It seems even more precise and more relevant than usual, highlighting its ability to rise above the vintage—to experience it rather than endure it! Delicate and fruity, the wine embraces its slender profile. It aims for harmony, refreshment, and mouthwatering appeal.

The nose is fruity, spicy, with a delicate peppery edge, elegance, and a fine, racy power. It shows notes of pulpy raspberry, violet and, more subtly, Madagascar pepper, combined with touches of pulpy/juicy purple plum, fresh/pulpy blackcurrant, as well as fine hints of spice. The palate is fruity and balanced, offering juiciness, suavity, a zesty backbone, good definition, fine tension, precision, accuracy, energy, and a lovely tangy framework. There are notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, fleshy/juicy cherry and, more subtly, crushed small red berries, joined by touches of lily, graphite, racy/terroir-driven minerality, and a subtle hint of tonka bean and zan (licorice). Good length. A subtle hint of vanilla on the finish/back palate. Sapid. The tannins offer fine plushness. A touch of straightness on the persistent finish.

Direct and straight, a nice linear core of cool red and blue fruit with a salty minerality and undercurrent of liquorice and wet stone. Nicely constructed, a touch of green pepper, herbs, blackcurrant and fennel on the palate. Ends clean and fresh with a cool flint accent.

Dark, vibrant color. Moderately intense nose with pure, lively fruit. Delicate on the attack, aromatic mid-palate, very fruity; the wine becomes juicy and flavorful, with a slightly lively finish. Medium length. Blend: 91% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol: 13% - pH: 3.55. Yield: 28 hl/ha.