Château d'Aiguilhe 2021

Reductive, finely spicy, very mineral, citrus notes, green apple; fresh on the palate, juicy, taut, excellent acidity, lively, structured, long, salty. Excellent. Puligny kisses Bordeaux.

Fresh and pure, with unadorned damson plum and cherry notes racing through, carried by a nicely inlaid, chalky structure through the floral-tinged finish, showing sneaky length. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 20,000 cases made.

A combination of ripe summer fruits on the nose with some smoked earth and chalky aromas. Lovely energy here, the red fruit—strawberry, raspberry and red cherry—stops just short of being tart; it has this delicious, crunchy, almost sour flavour before settling, revealing the chalky mid-palate. Tannins are fine but give soft support, balancing the elements and driving the flavours from start to finish. So much joy drinking this wine, with the terroir showing through and giving the textural elements which are so appealing. I like this a lot.

This has blueberries, dark chocolate, lavender and hints of sage on the nose. Medium-bodied with firm and silky tannins and a chalky finish. Crunchy. Delicious now, but drink or hold.

90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Deep crimson with a soft rim. Lots of red fruit in this vintage. Fine-boned and sweet, red fruit on the palate. Much lighter than the 2020 but just balanced in a fresher style. (JH)

The 2021 Château d'Aiguilhe has a light, floral bouquet with white flower scents filtering through the red fruit, though it doesn't have the complexity of the best vintages I have tasted. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a little dry in style, and it feels much more austere than I anticipated toward the finish. At the moment, I cannot see this having the substance to age over the long term.

Black raspberries, dried roses, and spice define the bouquet. On the palate, the wine is soft, polished, fresh, and lively, with a salty edge to the plums and cherries in the chalky finish. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2024–2036.

Dark ruby core, purple reflections, broad bright rim. Dark berries, a touch of liquorice, hints of nougat, with blackberry confit. Juicy red berry fruit on the palate, ripe tannins, freshly structured, lemon citrus, lively, salty finish, very versatile.

The 2021 Château D'Aiguilhe is another perfumed, incredibly floral Castillon that has medium-bodied aromas and flavors of raspberries, spring flowers, and a kiss of chalky minerality. It's elegant, beautifully balanced, has fine tannins, and a great finish. It's another delicious 2021 to drink in its youth.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (organic, 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 35 hl/ha, 13.3% vol. alcohol) Velvety, creamy, fruity, sweet bouquet, strawberry jelly, licorice, smoke, fine herbs. Creamy, full, finely opulent palate with powerful, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a finely muscular structure, long, powerful aromatics, sweet finish.

(Organic, 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 35 hl/ha, 13.3% vol. alcohol) Velvety, creamy, fruity, sweet bouquet, strawberry jelly, licorice, smoke, fine herbs. Creamy, full, finely opulent palate with powerful, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a finely muscular structure, long, powerful aromatics, sweet finish. 17/20 2027 - 2040

The chalky character announced by Les Seigneurs (the second wine) is even more evident here. Freshness is therefore acclaimed from the first aromas, as is clarity. Juicy and moreish on the palate, the wine has pep and even a bit of body. Everything aligns, and the wine is ready to drink while also offering good potential thanks to a supportive, muscular structure. A sapid, moreish, lively and appetizing wine.