2021 Cotes de Bordeaux wines did not have it easy. The growing season seemed like one challenge after another starting with below-freezing temperatures that struck the Cotes de Bordeaux appellation on April 7 and April. Depending on the vineyard, crop losses were dramatic with some vineyards losing more than 50% of their harvest.
The wet, sunless beginning of the summer, which brought about attacks of downy-mildew only served to exacerbate the situation. When everything looked bleak, at the end of August, things began improving as the late season, Indian Summer conditions took hold, bringing desperately needed warmth, winds, and sun, with cool nights.
While the production was down significantly, producers were able to make some very nice, character-filled, early-drinking wines.
All of the following 2021 Cotes de Castillon, 2021 Cotes de Francs, 2021 Cotes de Blaye, and 2021 Cotes de Bourg wines were tasted in Bordeaux in non-blind conditions in April.
2021 dAiguilhe – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black cherries, sea salt, flowers and herbs create the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, fresh, polished, and fruity, with silky tannins, chalk, and freshness in the finish. The wine is made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. 13.3% ABV. Drink from 2023-2036. 91-93 Pts
2021 Château d’Aiguilhe Blanc – Bordeaux – Lemon curd, honeysuckle, spice, green apple, and a touch of vanilla in the deep background create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, crisp, and packed with Pippin apples, pomelo, chalky, yellow citrus with a crisp finish. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2023-2032. 92-92 Pts
2021 Alcee – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Creamy, sweet, fresh dark cherries, licorice, and chocolate come along with a nice touch minerality that adds a cool salty touch to all the ripe, red fruits on the palate and in the finish. The wine blends 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2023-2033. 89-91 Pts
2021 dArce – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium bodied, with a floral, licorice, and red plum nose, the wine is lush, round, soft, forward, soft and sweet, this will be a nice wine to enjoy on the young side for all of its sweet, ripe, luscious fruits. Drink from 2023-2033. 89-91 Pts
2021 Cap de Faugeres – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Blending 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, produces a forward, soft, polished, fresh, lush, round, fruit-filled wine with loads of ripe, chocolate-coated, plums and black cherries with a touch of salt on the mid-palate and in the endnote. Drink from 2023-2034. 90-92 Pts
2021 de Carles – Fronsac – From 100% Merlot, the wine is rich, lush, round, forward, fruity, and plummy, with overtones of licorice and cocoa on the palate and in the finish, Drink from 2023-2030. 89-91 Pts
2021 Clarisse Cotes de Bordeaux – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – The medium-bodied, soft, fresh, sweet, polished wine offers red plums and cherries, with a touch of mint leaf on the backend. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2023-2032. 86-88 Pts
2021 Clos Lunelles – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black cherries, black raspberries, flowers, and chocolate in the nose, the wine shows good color along with ample sweet, tart, and salty black plums, bitter cocoa, and savory herbs in the supple-textured finish. The wine was made by blending 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, 14.45% ABV. Drink from 2025-2040. 91-93 Pts
2021 Clos Puy Arnaud – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black raspberries, thyme and spice come through on the nose. Medium-bodied, bright, crisp, and juicy, finishing with a dusty savory, herbal edge. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2023-2032. 89-87 Pts
2021 Clos du Roy – Fronsac – Focused on its sweet, ripe, plum, and cherry core of round, soft, fresh, bright fruits with its wet earth, espresso, and cocoa accents, you can enjoy this medium-bodied, forward charmer with ease on release. Drink from 2023-2030. 88-90 Pts
2021 Dalem – Fronsac – Fresh, soft, bright, and packed with cocoa-dusted, crisp red fruits on the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, crisp and vibrant with ample sweet, dark red fruits in the finish. You can drink this on release. Dalem has been on quite a roll lately, and 2021 is no exception. Drink from 2023-2034. 91-93 Pts
2021 Fontenil – Fronsac – Salty, mineral-edged plums, soft, round tannins, and a blast of spicy cherries along with a touch of refreshing mint leaf on the mid-palate that you also find nuances of in the finish. You can enjoy this on release for its fruit and freshness. Drink from 2023-2032. 91-93 Pts
2021 Gaby – Canon-Fronsac – Round and plummy, with a strong dose of espresso, chocolate, and flowers on the nose. This is perfect for early drinking for all those ripe red berries and chocolate on the palate. Drink from 2023-2030. 87-89 Pts
2021 Haut Carles – Fronsac – Chocolate-covered black cherries, licorice, and espresso come through on the nose with no effort. Plush, round, forward, and fruity with freshness and a plummy finish, no waiting is needed for this early-drinking charmer. Drink from 2023-2033. 89-91 Pts
2021 de Francs Infinity – Côtes de Francs – Initially, you notice the oceanic influences before moving on to the flowers, spice, smoke, and red berry nuances. Medium/full-bodied, bright, crisp, fresh, and juicy, this will be quite charming to enjoy over the next decade or longer. Drink from 2023-2035. 89-91 Pts
2021 de la Huste – Fronsac – Medium-bodied, fresh, lighter-styled wine with tones of cocoa, cherry, and plums. You can enjoy this easy-to-like wine on release. Drink from 2023-2029. 86-88 Pts
2021 Joanin Becot – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – On the nose you find flowers, cocoa, black cherries, espresso, and leafy herbs. Medium-bodied, soft, and fresh, you find vibrancy and juicy fruits with touches of red berries, spice, chocolate, and herbs on the mid-palate and on the backend. The harvest took place from October 6 – October 9. The wine blends 85% Merlot with 15% old vine Cabernet Franc. Some of the vines used here date back 1870! Drink from 2023-2033. 90-92 Pts
2021 La Brande – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black cherries, espresso, flowers, and wet earth come through on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, open, round, and moves between sweet and tart on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2023-2031. 88-90 Pts
2021 La Croix Lartigue – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Ripe, sweet plums with a nice touch of chocolate, espresso bean, and hints of licorice form the core of this forward, round-textured, medium-bodied, ready-to-go wine. Drink from 2023-2033. 88-90 Pts
2021 La Dauphine – Fronsac – With deep color, once past the freshly picked floral aromas, you find that the fruits are on the dark red side of the style range, with round textures and a soft, polished, sweet, lively, black raspberry and energetic plum finish. Drink from 2023-2034. 90-92 Pts
2021 La Prade – Côtes de Francs – Black cherries, espresso, dark chocolate, and wet earth already show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, sweet, fruity, leafy, and fresh. Medium-bodied with touches of chocolate and plums in the savory finish, you can enjoy this on release. Made from 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, drink from 2023-2032. 89-91 Pts
2021 La Rousselle – Fronsac – Flowers and spice with minty herbs and red fruits on the palate. The wine is bright, crisp and a bit reserved as well in the finish. Drink from 2023-2030. 87-89 Pts
2021 La Vieille Cure – Fronsac – Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, and fruity, the palate is loaded with ripe, crunchy black raspberries and red plums with overtones of licorice, espresso, and cocoa. Drink from 2023-2032. 88-90 Pts
2021 Lafond – Canon-Fronsac – Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine opens with fresh, sweet, polished plums, and cherries. Medium-bodied, bright, and lifted, with a red plum and cherry-filled palate, you can enjoy this on release. 2023-2030. 87-89 Pts
2021 Le Rey Argileuses – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, soft, fresh and silky, there is a refined edge to the sweet red fruits on the mid-palate and in the finish. The wine is produced by blending 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV%. This well-priced, early-drinking charmer is a by-the-case purchase. Drink from 2023-2030. 89-91 Pts
2021 Le Rey Les Rocheuses – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black raspberries, crushed rocks, wet earth, and a touch of cocoa are already showing on the nose and palate. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, sweet, and fresh, with lift, energy, and sweet red fruits in the finish. The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc, 13.65% ABV. This will be easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2023-2031. 90-92 Pts
2021 Les Charmes-Godard Blanc – Côtes de Francs – Flowers, yellow citrus, honeysuckle, green apples, pears, and pink grapefruit nuances are all over the place on the nose and in the creamy, sweet, bright, vibrant, yellow citrus packed palate. The wine blends 65% Semillon 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Sauvignon Gris. Drink from 2023-2030. 93-93 Pts
2021 Les-Trois-Croix – Fronsac – Black cherries and roses with a touch of chocolate-dusted, black raspberries create the nose. Medium-bodied, with a bright, salty, fresh, crisp, savory edge to the red pit fruit and licorice notes tasted in the finish. Drink from 2024-3033. 89-91 Pts
2021 Mazeris – Canon-Fronsac – Vibrant fruits, the cut of minerality with its salty edge, flowers, and red fruits are discovered on the nose and in the medium-bodied, soft-textured, fresh, red plum, and cherry-filled palate. Drink from 2023-2030. 87-89 Pts
2021 Monbadon – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Crushed rocks, flowers, licorice, and red fruits are all over the place here. Medium-bodied, fresh and vibrant, with a vein of minerality that runs through the wine, finishing with earthy, fresh red fruits and stone. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot. The wine is aged in 50% new, French oak barrels and amphora. Drink from 2023-2031. 89-91 Pts
2021 Montlandrie – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Crushed rocks, flowers, cocoa, and ripe, dark plums create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, soft, bright, and crisp, with juiciness to the fruits on the mid-palate and in the medium-bodied finish, with its touch of salty tannins on the backend. The wine blends 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% ABV. The harvest took place October 4 – October 7. Drink from 2023-2035. 90-92 Pts
2021 Moulin-Haut-Laroque – Fronsac – The roses, black raspberries, licorice and espresso work well here with the medium-bodied, fresh, bright, elegantly textured, crisp palate. Drink from 2023-2032. 89-91 Pts
2021 Moulin-Pey-Labrie – Canon-Fronsac – Flowers and cherries dominate the nose as well as the palate of this medium-bodied, forward, soft, fruity, already delicious to enjoy wine. Drink from 2023-2030. 87-89 Pts
2021 Pierre Levée Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux Révélations d’Hubert de Boüard – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Earthy with a strong, underbrush and herbal component that sits on top of the bright, red fruits, the wine is medium-bodied, forward and fully, ready-to-go. Drink from 2023-2027. 85-87 Pts
2021 Plain-Point Canon-Fronsac – Canon-Fronsac – Cherries, licorice, forest leaf, and a touch of espresso on the nose and palate. This is a medium-bodied, soft, forward, already enjoyable wine that will be best in its youth. Drink from 2023-2032. 88-90 Pts
2021 Prieure Saint-Anne – Côtes de Bordeaux – Light, bright, fresh, and ready to go, the soft, easy-to-like strawberry and red plums on the nose and palate are ready to offer pleasure on release. Drink from 2023-2027. 88-90 Pts
2021 Puygueraud – Côtes de Francs – All the flowers, plums, spice, and thyme on the nose work perfectly with the medium-bodied, soft, forward, early-drinking, charm that you will find in this fresh, plummy, wine. The wine blends 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2023-2031. 89-91 Pts
2021 Roc de Cambes – Côtes de Bourg – Cigar wrapper, forest floor, spicy, leafy, savory red berries, and a strong dose of crushed stone in the nose and on the palate sets you up for the endnote which finishes with salty tannins and earthy, leafy, fresh, vibrant red fruits. Drink from 2023-2037. 91-93 Pts
2021 Villars – Fronsac – Soft, supple, fresh, and plummy, with chocolate, licorice, and black cherries and spice. Round, forward and fruity, you can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2023-2032. 89-91 Pts
We are continuing with our 2021 Right Bank tasting notes. Up next, 2021 Bordeaux Superieur Wines followed by 2021 St Emilion Sattelitte Appellation Wines and Bordeaux generic AOC wines.