Château d'Arsac 2021

Bright and shiny, with lovely purity to the fruit expression—clear and clean strawberries, raspberries and cherries. A little light but sleek and streamlined, with a touch of tension keeping the direction. Nicely worked and presented, not weighty, but this has definition and nuance and cooling mint and wet stone aspects on the finish.

Black berry fruit, black beans, graphite and tapenade on the nose. It’s firm yet elegant with very fine tannins. Medium-bodied, sleek and composed. 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot. Drink from 2024.

The 2021 Château d'Arsac offers little on the nose, showing less fruit than I would have expected despite giving the bottle plenty of aeration. The palate is raw on the entry, with an unavoidable underlying greenness and a very monotone finish. This Margaux estate can produce fine wines, but alas, this is not one of them.

Savory herbs, cranberry and dried flower aromas are the best part of the wine. The palate is medium-to light-bodied with a bright, high-pitched, chalky red-berry character that is best suited for early drinking pleasure. Drink from 2024–2030.

Darker garnet core and hue. Fragrant and generous nose offering fine oak, mocha and mild spice with floral dark fruit, cassis and cherry, with sage and mint. Supple palate, medium weight with good polish, mild tannin and extraction, savoury and digest with fine purity and length; an excellent result for the vintage.

Attractive sappy blue and black fruits on the nose, fresh acidities but with balance. Campfire smoke curls up as it opens, adding complexity through the palate, but this drops off on the finish. Promising, skilful winemaking but marked by the vintage.

The 2021 d'Arsac, 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot, is deep garnet-purple in color. Broody notions of sauteed herbs, tree bark, fried herbs, and tar eventually give way to a core of redcurrants and rhubarb on the nose. The medium-bodied palate is a tad thin, herbal, and chewy, with a tartness to the finish.

The Cabernet Sauvignon stands out clearly in the bouquet of Arsac 2021, with notes of blackcurrant and eucalyptus complemented by refreshing hints of raspberry. With respectable density, the wine offers compact, juicy tannins and an acidity that gives it verve. A flavorful wine that will be accessible quite soon.

The nose shows lovely freshness with violet, blackcurrant jelly and elderflower. The attack is lively, indicative of great freshness with menthol notes. The tannins are tight, the texture remains delicate and the whole is well balanced. A lovely saline note on the finish.

In its modern form, this estate is the creation of the late Philippe Raoux who populated the property with massive modern art installations. This wine is a fine testament to the proprietor, ripe, structured and dense. It is set for long-term aging. Drink from 2027.