All of the following 2021 Cotes de Bordeaux wines were tasted in non-blind tasting conditions in my home office.
2021 Ad Francos – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Black raspberries, mint leaf, flowers and red plums pop in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, fresh, forward and bright, with a high-toned, red fruit character and a touch of peppery spice and a strong sense of spearmint on the backend. This will be best in its youth. Drink from 2024-2030. 88 Pts
2021 Ad Francos Blanc – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Forward, open, early drinking wine with a core of yellow citrus and white peach and a touch of spice that lingers, finishing with pineapples and citrus rind. Drink from 2024-2027. 90 Pts
2021 Ad Francos Reserve Ad Aeternam – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Leafy, spicy, tobacco-edged, dark red berries get the wine started. On the palate, the wine is round, soft and strives to be creamy in the red berry, citrus and peppery mint-filled finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 89 Pts
2021 Alcee – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, black cherries, plums and licorice pop in the nose. The creamy palate is even better with all of its sweet, fresh plums, spice box and chocolate nuances that fill the mid-palate and carry through to the fresh, finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 91 Pts
2021 Ampelia – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Light in the nose and palate, the gentle wine offers cherries and espresso notes from start to finish. This will be best if enjoyed over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2029. 87 Pts
2021 Beynat Cuvée Léonard – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, espresso, black cherries and spearmint pop in the nose. Medium-bodied, forward, light, fresh and soft, the end delivers savory black raspberries with touches of herbs. Drink from 2024-2031. 88 Pts
2021 Bourdieu – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Espresso, incense, plums and cherries resonate in the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, forward, fruity and soft on the palate, and will be easy to enjoy on release and over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Bourdieu Absolu – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Concentrated, lush and round, with loads of sweet plums, espresso, spice, and licorice in the nose and palate. This is the top cuvee from Bourdieu. which works well in 2021 due in part to the large percentage of Malbec in the blend. Drink from 2023-2032. 88-90 90 Pts
2021 Bourdieu N1 – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Forward, medium-bodied and with a nice vibrancy to its red fruits, which are accompanied by a liberal dose of oak, which add roundness, as well as chocolate, espresso and spice to the palate and the backend. Drink from 2034-2030. 90 Pts
2021 Cap de Faugeres – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black cherries, cocoa, mint, licorice, espresso and floral essences pop in the nose. On the palate, the wine is forward, lifted, but not quite high-toned, finishing with orange citrus, red cherries, pepper and red plums with a touch of chalk that comes in at the end of the finish. Drink from 2024-2036. 91 Pts
2021 Clarisse Cotes de Bordeaux – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Espresso, licorice and red fruits combine to create this soft-textured, forward, charming, fresh, energetic, crisp, strawberry and chalky red plum, filled wine that can be enjoyed on the young side. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2024-2032. 89 Pts
2021 Claud-Bellevue – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, cherries, and a dab of cocoa pops in the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, forward, round and creamy with a cherry, licorice and espresso oriented finish Drink from 2024-2031. 89 Pts
2021 Clos Lunelles – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – One of the dark colored wines of the appellation opens with cherries, black raspberries, wet earth, flowers and fresh leaves in the perfume. The palate is loaded with sweet, ripe, cocoa dusted black cherries, cappuccino, hints of blueberries and ends with a salty, mineral-driven edge. The wine blends 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2038. 93 Pts
2021 Clos Puy Arnaud – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, wet earth, thyme and black raspberries come through on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, crisp and juicy, finishing with a savory, mouthful of bright, red berries. Drink from 2024-2033. 88 Pts
2021 Clottiers – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Floral, spicy, vibrant, and light, this easy-to-drink charmer is going to be a pleasure to enjoy on release. Although, the finish is quite chalky on the backend. Drink from 2024-2032. 87 Pts
2021 Cote Montpezat “Cuvée Compostelle” – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, spice, red fruits and espresso show in the nose with little effort. On the palate, the wine is soft, fresh and fruity with black cherries, chalky tannins and chocolate to wrap everything up nicely. Drink from 2024-2033. 90 Pts
2021 Croix Lartigue – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black cherries with a hint of chocolate, and espresso beans are front and center in the nose, and on the medium-bodied, soft, polished, chalky, palate. This is going to be good-to-on on release and will be easy to enjoy over the next decade or so. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 DAiguilhe – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Black raspberries, dried roses, and spice hit the perfume. 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 wine blends 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2024-2036. 92 Pts
2021 DAiguilhe Seigneurs d’Aiguilhe – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Spicy, fresh, medium-bodied, forward, soft-textured, vibrant, cherry and plum filled wine that is going to be delicious on release. Drink from 2024-2030. 87 Pts
2021 Fougas Maldoror – Côtes de Bourg – Red fruits, cedar, pepper and a plethora of minty herbs form the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, spice and fresh with earthy, peppery red fruits and spearmint on the backend. Drink from 2024-2031. 87 Pts
2021 Gelineau – Côtes de Bourg – Forward, soft-textured, medium-bodied, early-drinking charmer with bright, salty red fruits and a touch of herbs in the finish, leaving you with a minty, savory endnote. Drink from 2024-2028. 87 Pts
2021 Godard Bellevue – Bordeaux Côtes de Francs – Flowers, crushed stones and cherries line the perfume. On the palate, the wine is light, soft, and fresh, with notes of citrus, cocoa, and red fruits with a salty, drying finish. Drink from 2024-2031. 85 Pts
2021 Grand Mazerolles – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Simpl3, forward, peppery cherries with a dry savory edge for early drinking. Drink from 2024-2027. 84 Pts
2021 Haut Coulon – Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – Smoke, tobacco, herbs, hay and barnyard aromas are more prevalent in the nose than its earthy red fruits, which remain hidden in the nose and on the palate. Time might help this wine, as the vintage was quite difficult, but I am not so sure. Drink from 2024-2028. 83 Pts
2021 Haut-Grelot Coteaux de Methez – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Peppery, herb-tinted red berries with s sharp, bright, cranberry-oriented palate form the core of this early drinking wines character. Drink from 2024-2027. 84 Pts
2021 Joanin Becot – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Blending 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc produced a forward, soft, vibrant, fresh expression of cherries, plums, flowers, and wet earth, with a touch of salinity in the nose and on the palate. The medium-bodied palate leaves you with sweet, vibrant plums, chocolate and ripe, cherries on the backend. This is already delicious, so you can open this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2024-2034. 91 Pts
2021 La Brande – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Espresso, chocolate and black cherries come through on the nose. The wine is medium bodied, soft and creamy, with loads of sweet, ripe, black cherries in the finish. Exchanging complexity for extra, easy pleasure is a good thing in this vintage, and that is what this does best. Drink from 2024-2034. 90 Pts
2021 La Chapelle – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Earthy red fruits with a savory touch on the palate and in the finish of this medium-bodied, plum and olive-tinted wine. Drink from 2024-2032. 86 Pts
2021 La Prade – Côtes de Francs – Flowers, tobacco leaf, plums and a dash of cocoa fill in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is soft, sweet, fruity, leafy and fresh. Medium-bodied with touches of chocolate and plums in the savory finish, there is a chalky, salty sensation that kicks in at the end of the finish that is quite nice. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2024-2035. 91 Pts
2021 Lalande Bellevue Merlot – Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux – Savory red fruits, wet earth and a touch of smoke form the nose and palate here. The wine is light, bright and crunchy with a strong herbal note in the finish, Drink from 2024-2028. 83 Pts
2021 Le Clos du Merle – Côtes de Bourg – Bright, light and tart with a focus on its crisp, lean, cranberry tinted character. Drink from 2024-2026. 82 Pts
2021 Le Rey Argileuses Parcelles 1 et 3 – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, crushed rocks, black raspberries with strawberries pop from the glass. On the palate, the wine is soft, fresh, polished, forward and easy to drink. This well-priced, early-drinking charmer is a by-the-case purchase. Drink from 202-2031. 90 Pts
2021 Le Rey Les Rocheuses Parcelles 5 & 6 – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Orange rind, dried flowers, coffee bean, licorice and red fruits are all over the place here in the nose and on the soft, fresh, elegant, vibrant palate, that delivers a refreshing sprig of mint and a salty edge to the fruits on the backend. This will be fabulous on release! Drink from 2024-2032. 91 Pts
2021 Les Charmes-Godard Blanc – Côtes de Francs – Pineapple, green apples, honeysuckle, orange rind and mango nuances are found in the nose and in the energetic, sweet, creamy, vibrant display of citrus and pineapple in the finish. The wine blends 65% Semillon 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Sauvignon Gris. Drink from 2024-2030. 93 Pts
2021 Les Tours des Verdots – Côtes de Bergerac – Flowers and black raspberries in the nose open the wine. Soft, medium-bodied, vibrant with a core of bright, but, not overly so red fruits with a touch of black pepper on the back end. Drink from 2024-2030. 88 Pts
2021 Les Verdots – Côtes de Bergerac – Peppery, savory, red fruit with an herbal edge on the palate of this medium-bodied, crisp, bright, red cherry and raspberry filled wine, that leaves you with just a hint of cocoa and spice in the endnote. This will be best in its youth. Drink from 2024-2029. 85 Pts
2021 Monbadon – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Flowers, cocoa, bright red fruits and licorice open the nose and paint the palate. Medium-bodied, crisp, brisk and chalky, with black raspberries and cocoa in the dusty finish. Drink from 2024-2031. 89 Pts
2021 Montlandrie – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Cherries and flowers open the nose. The medium-bodied palate is even better with its soft, silky, fresh, rush of sweet red fruits, crushed stone and licorice. If you are not yet familiar with Montlandrie, you should be as this is one of the best deals in all of Bordeaux! The wine blends 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2024-2034. 92 Pts
2021 Moya – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Plummy, forward, supple and fresh, the wine serves up its plum, black cherry, licorice and cocoa charms easily on the nose and on the palate. Drink from 2024-2033. 87 Pts
2021 Paloma – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Soft, polished, earthy red fruits, with a touch of salty chocolate and citrus on the backend make this medium-bodied, forward wine quite a charmer for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2032. 90 Pts
2021 Prieure Saint-Anne – Côtes de Bordeaux – Medium-bodied, floral-accented, red berry-filled wine with sweetness, and lift on the palate. The wine finishes with more of those, fresh, energetic cherries on the backend. This is going to be good to go on release. Drink from 2024-203. 89 Pts
2021 Puygueraud – Côtes de Francs – Savory herbs, spices, licorice and fresh red berries open the aromatics. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, forward, bright and fruity, with a nice crisp edge to the berries in the finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 90 Pts
2021 Roquevielle – Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux – Light, vibrant, fresh and sweet, the red plums and cherries have lift, energy and softness making this quite appealing for near-term, early-drinking pleasure. Drink from 2024-2030. 89 Pts
2021 Tuiliere Tradition – Côtes de Bourg – Red berries and flowers are found in this soft, forward, uncomplicated, tart, herb-coated, chewy, medium-bodied, dry wine. Drink from 2024-2028. 86 Pts
For an overview of the 2021 Bordeaux vintage with links to all of our appellation reports 2021 Bordeaux In Bottle Report for the Best 750 Wines of the vintage We are continuing our reports on all of the best wines tasted in bottle from the 2021 Bordeaux vintage. Up next, all the best 2021 St. Emilion Satellite Appellation Wines before moving back to the Left Bank.