2021 Picque Caillou
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Tasting notes
Spicy red and black fruits, sappy herbs, green tobacco, and cedar notes all emerge from the 2021 Château Picque Caillou, a pretty, medium-bodied, lively, elegant red that has supple tannins and a good finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Picque Caillou has a fresh strawberry- and blackcurrant-wine-gum-scented nose. Traces of pencil shaving loiter in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with rather dry tannins, a leafy ’21, showing signs of some attenuation toward the finish that feels a bit raw. This is harsh on the aftertaste.
The 2021 Picque Caillou is an attractive wine to drink now and over the next decade, or perhaps more. Gravel, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice, herbs and espresso meld into a core of blue/purplish fruit. Savory/earthy undertones add layers of nuance. The 2021 offers good depth and fine balance, especially within the context of the year.
Fresh earth, soot, raspberry leaf and green pepper. There is raspberry and redcurrant fruit here, and it's delicately put together, but the vintage doesn't allow it to really shine, and it struggles to maintain momentum.
About the producer
Neighbouring Haut-Brion and Pape Clément, this estate has been turned around since Paulin Calvet took over in 2007. Working with the legendary late Denis Dubourdieu and Valérie Lavigne, results have been impressive.