Château La Marzelle 2021

Reserved in character, well-proportioned, refreshing, with firm, bitter tannins and good length; a faithful expression of the vintage.

Ripe and heady, there's a definite plush, chewy juiciness to this while still remaining relatively straight and focused, but with a bit more weight on the palate than some others. Blackcurrants, black cherries and plums with an undercurrent of salty minerality, liquorice and graphite. Nicely balanced and filling, good persistence and easy to drink with high acidity and a sense of precision and clarity. A nice combination of weight and texture that works.

Candied cherries and espresso with hints of cocoa pop on the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, polished, round and creamy, with an herbal note on the finish that stands out. Drink from 2024–2035.

Deep ruby red, purple hues at the narrow rim. Fine toasty aromas, hints of nougat and black cherries, subtle notes of coconut and caramel. Juicy, red cherries, integrated tannins, taut finish; will need its time, a fresh food companion.

Bright dark purple hue and core. Fragrant with wild berry notes, cassis, tobacco and fine oak underneath. Medium weight with fresh and supple fruit flavours, ripe tannin, balanced oak and a long finish.

Red and black fruits, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and a touch of minerality all emerge from the 2021 Château La Marzelle, a nicely balanced, medium-bodied, concentrated 2021 with fine tannins and outstanding length.

Ruby red in colour, with full extraction for the vintage, showing notes of coffee grounds and grilled cedar oak. Black fruits add impact, but overall the tannins feel quite angular. Downgraded by one point from en primeur.

La Marzelle 2021 is organic and has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. Scents of black raspberries, kirsch, and boysenberries jump from the glass, plus hints of wild thyme and cast-iron pan. Medium-bodied, the palate is chewy and refreshing, with just enough black fruit and an herbal lift on the finish.

Blueberry aromas mingle with notes of garrigue and warm stone, creating an original and intriguing nose. Both serious and approachable, the palate opens on assured fruit, underpinned by muscular tannins. A very interesting wine.

A great deal of subtlety in La Marzelle’s bouquet. It unfolds gradually with notes of garrigue and black berries. Slightly suave on the attack, the wine has body and well-integrated tannins, subtly austere and ideally supported by a saline, refreshing acidic structure.

Logo on the cork: LA Dark, intense, purplish color. Very aromatic, refined nose, with very ripe fruit. Delicate on the attack, with a finely creamy mid-palate; flavorful and comfortably supple, the wine melts on the palate—savory, long, and with no hard tannic edge. Blend: 75% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol content: 13%.

In the Sioen family since 1998 and run by grandson Jean-Charles Joris, this 42-acre estate on the Saint-Émilion plateau is now organic. The wine is rich in aromas of dark chocolate and black cherries. The taste is full of dark tannins and ripe black-plum flavors. Drink from 2027.