2021 Le Crock

Another impressive wine from this talented team, the 2021 Château Le Crock offers up beautiful darker berry and currant fruit interwoven with notes of leafy herbs, tobacco, and spice. With medium-bodied richness, a round, up-front, seamless mouthfeel, integrated tannins, and a great finish, I'd be thrilled to drink a bottle today, yet it should be even better with 2-4 years of bottle age and have 15+ years of overall longevity.

The 2021 Le Crock has an attractive, floral nose with wilted rose petals (like the Deuxième Vin ) mixed with redcurrant and pomegranate scents. It becomes even more floral with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and quite elegant in style, not powerful but I admire its sapidity toward the toothsome finish. Give it a couple of years in bottle.

The 2021 Le Crock is bright and nicely focused, which is to say: very much in the style of the year. Vibrant acids lift a core of red-toned fruit. Cedar, tobacco, scorched earth and grilled herbs develop in the glass, adding layers of nuance and character.