Château Coufran 2021

The 2021 Coufran hasn’t turned out as well as I had hoped, showing notes of minty berries, boot polish and herbs, with a medium-bodied, soft and somewhat dilute palate, ending in a vegetal finish.

Nice floral and fruity aromatics on the nose. Smooth and succulent, quite high acidity here, almost tart, but the cool minerality and slightly salty, powdery tannins come in and soften the brightness, adding texture and character. It's lightly presented and needs a bit more time, but this feels well worked with a soft structure and medium finish.

The 2021 Coufran has a simple, slightly underripe bouquet that just lacks presence. The palate is medium-bodied with a raw entry and quite hard tannins. It feels green around the gills toward the short, sapid finish. Coufran has produced better than this in other vintages. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

Black cherries, thyme and herbs show in the perfume and on the medium-bodied, soft, slightly salty, red-berry palate, which wraps everything up nicely with a light touch of cocoa on the backend. This is going to be delicious on release. Drink from 2024–2034.

Dark ruby core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fine aromas of nougat, dark berries, fresh cherries and a delicate herbal savouriness. Juicy, subtle fruit sweetness on the palate with a touch of plums, integrated tannins, medium length, versatile.

Mostly Merlot (there's 15% Cabernet Sauvignon), the medium ruby-hued 2021 Château Coufran offers a more red-fruited, herbal, cedary, subtly spicy style to go with medium-bodied richness and depth. It's focused, firm, yet offers charm.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50 hl/ha, 12.8% alc./vol.) Red-berry, slender bouquet, red cherries, green wood. Slim, firm palate with little sweet fruit, sandy tannins, thin structure, dry finish.

Unfussy, light and underpowered, charming, and the leafiness found En Primeur has softened over ageing, but this remains a little diluted, and is for early to medium-term drinking. 50 hl/ha yield, consultant: Eric Boissenot.

The 2021 Coufran, made mainly from Merlot, is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of red and black plums jump from the glass, followed by wafts of wild sage and dusty soil. The light-bodied palate is refreshing and clean, with chewy tannins and an herb-laced finish.

A beautiful, surprising nose of late-summer flowers, sandalwood, and fresh plums. A rather creamy, luxurious texture for an accessible and successful 2021.