G d'Estournel 2021

Offering up aromas of sweet berries, toasty oak and curried meats, the 2021 Goulée by Cos d'Estournel is medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with powdery structuring tannins and a somewhat carnal finish.

Stylish, with a polished feel to the cassis and warm cherry notes, which are gently inlaid with a sweet tobacco accent. Reveals a late sanguine echo. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028. 6,500 cases made.

Rose-touched sweet red berry fruit. Subtle and quite deep. This is more rich than overtly fresh and acidic. Unfussy, with concentrated blackcurrants and black cherries. Succulent, then crisp salinity coming through at the end, plus Cabernet markers of eucalyptus, mint and green peppercorns. Calm and gentle with rich, high-toned fruit. 25% new oak. Soft spicing from clove and cinnamon.

A juicy and solid 2021 with currants, dark chocolate and bark. Some black cherries, too. Medium body. Firm and silky with a juicy undertone. Drink or hold.

80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc. This wine was formerly called Goulée. Cask sample. Light, fresh and simple. Relatively juicy but the acidity is marked and the finish a tad hard. Early drinking. (JL)

The 2021 G d'Estournel feels a bit flat on the nose: licorice and mulberry scents, a touch of toffee, missing some lift. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, quite sapid in the mouth, though it attenuates a little abruptly on the finish.

Round, forward, fruity and already accessible, this medium-bodied wine is packed with dark chocolate, black cherries, espresso and plums. You can enjoy it with ease upon release. Drink from 2024–2031.

The 2021 G D'Estournel checks in as 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc. A juicy, lively 2021, it has ample redcurrant and mulberry fruit, some sappy herb and tobacco notes, medium body, bright yet not excessive acidity, and fine tannins. It's nicely balanced and unquestionably delicious, and it also shows the style of the vintage nicely.

80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc. Playful red-berry bouquet with a delicate hint of lavender, light tobacco and cranberry jelly. Mid-palate shows a supple texture, supportive freshness and finely sandy astringency. Focused finish with morello cherry, rosewood and subtly stony-kernel notes in the background, rounded off.

(80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 12.81% vol. alcohol) Creamy, full, creamy, powerful bouquet, tobacco, herbs, plum, cassis, mocha. Fruity, opulent, powerful, sweet palate with pronounced fruit, good tannins, broad structure, long, plush finish with a good core. 17/20 2026 - 2040

This is juicy, easy to drink, carefully extracted, balanced and gentle. Focused on redcurrant and cassis bud, easy to recommend for early drinking. 37 hl/ha yield, after no frost but some mildew. pH 3.78.

A blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 G d’Estournel is deep purple-black in color. Notes of Bing cherries, fresh redcurrants and black raspberries spill from the glass, plus hints of wild sage and graphite. Light-bodied, refreshing and with a slight chewiness to the tannins, this palate finishes on a lifted herbal note.

A touch of reduction on the nose, which masks the other aromas. An atypical, charming palate with tonka bean, good substance, and a finish with caressing tannins.

The nose is fresh, fruity, and offers a touch of richness, a fine grain, elegance, and lovely fleshy/ripe fruit. It reveals notes of fleshy/juicy blackcurrant, small black fruits and, more subtly, redcurrant, combined with fine touches of chocolate, Bourbon vanilla, violet, a discreet hint of cherry blossom, and discreet hints of graphite. The palate is beautifully fresh and offers minerality, a tangy/fresh backbone, good definition, indulgence, roundness, and a delicate airy quality. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/fresh blackcurrant, bright/fresh wild blackberry and, more slightly, juicy/crunchy small fruits, combined with fine touches of tonka bean, a delicate hint of fresh lily, as well as fine hints of racy minerality and a discreet hint of cocoa on the finish/persistence. Lovely freshness and minerality. The tannins are powdered and mellow. Indulgence and a subtle sapid note.

Dark, purple color. Fruity, slightly discreet nose. Soft, generous palate that becomes quite flavorful, with a lovely texture and full body. Tannins are present and well-wrapped. Blend: 80% merlot, 19% cabernet sauvignon, 1% cabernet franc. Alcohol: 12°18 - pH: 3.78. IPT: 70.

Intense dark ruby garnet, opaque core, purple hue to a narrow rim. Fine herbal savouriness, red cherries, tobacco nuances, a floral touch. Juicy, discreet cherry fruit, fresh acidity, nicely structured, a touch of nougat on the mineral finish; open and approachable.

Earthy aromas give this wine a rustic character. The palate is ripe, dominated by jammy Merlot. It is soft and developing quickly. Drink from 2025.