Chateau La Garde 2021

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A classically textured white wine, crisp with citrus and spice. It has a mineral edge that gives a fine structure to the wine that will age well. Drink from 2025."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Refined, fragrant nose of cassis, black chocolate and a hint of pencil shaving here follow through to a rather medium-bodied palate with fine-grained tannins and a juicy, medium-long finish. Not an intense Pessac-Leognan but already a very good, elegant expression of the vintage. Drink now through to 2030."

WEINWISSER: "62 % Merlot, 36 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 % Petit Verdot, 12.5 Vol-%, 36 hl/ ha. Intensives Bouquet, edle Cassiswürze, verführerischer Iris-Duft, Heidelbeergelee und schwarzer Pfeffer. Am strukturierten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett und durchtrainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale Wildkirsche, dunkles Edelholz, Graphit und fein körnige Adstringenz. Überzeugt durch eine grandiose Präzision, kann noch zulegen."

DECANTER: "Ripe and concentrated nose, smells lively and aromatic with five spice, cinnamon and blackcurrants. Smooth and sappy, a lovely energy straight away, a kick of bright acidity - almost sour and tart, but stays the right side, really focussed and bright, before the salty core comes into play but balanced and harmonious naturally following the lively start. I love the salty minerality with just-textured tannins adding grip and a fruit-forward finish. Tannins are great, this is juicy with real terroir influence. I like it a lot. Easy drinking but also feels like it will age. First vintage in the new cellar."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Tobacco leaf, mint, red fruits and just a hint of coffee beans open the nose here. On the palate, the wine is soft, polished, fruity and already a pleasure to taste. Drink from 2024-2032."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A blend of 62% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2021 La Garde possesses a somber, dark bouquet with aromas of wild dark berries, licorice, spices and coniferous forest. Medium-bodied, rich and concentrated, it’s long with structuring tannins and a firm finish. It needs some years in the cellar to chill out."