Château du Tertre 2021

Refined aroma, delicate red fruit, redcurrants. On the palate, approachable, gentle, with round, ripe tannins, no over-extraction. Good length, plenty of freshness.

The 2021 du Tertre has turned out well in bottle, offering up aromas of dark, minty berries, pipe tobacco, orange zest and pencil shavings, followed by a medium-bodied, supple and suave palate built around velvety tannins and bright acids. This Cabernet-dominant blend represents a strong effort for this property, no doubt helped by the brave decision to sell off one-third of the production in bulk.

Packs a red currant and bitter cherry compote core dotted with hints of sweet bay leaf and tobacco, while pepper and potpourri hints line the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 4,840 cases made, 726 cases imported.

Sweet and spicy on the nose, curry leaf, sage, pepper and sweet red fruits. Bright acidity straight away, an instant buzz of tangy fruit before subsiding a little, giving way to chalky, mineral tannins. Nice freshness all the way through with an undercurrent of fresh fruit. They've been very careful here and this hasn't been pushed. Could maybe have taken on a bit more weight, but this is straight and streamlined, elegantly presented with balance all the way through. Not a showstopper but quietly charming.

The 2021 Château du Tertre has a composed bouquet with cedar and violet-tinged red fruit, harmonious with nicely integrated oak. This has a little more fruit concentration than its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid, pastille-like black fruit, and its smooth, harmonious finish has more joie-de-vivre than some of its peers. This is a well-crafted wine that should give pleasure over the next decade.

Fresh, vibrant, savory, black raspberries, currants, espresso and mint aromas pop in the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, energetic, and bright, with a core of cedar, herbs and spicy currants, with an underpinning of cocoa that blends together and lingers. The wine blends 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2045.

Dark ruby garnet colour with deep core, purple reflections, delicate ochre rim. Fine blackberry confit, black cherries, some cassis, subtle precious wood savouriness. Juicy, elegant, compact and fresh, finesse-rich acidity, ripe, supporting tannins, has good length and ageing potential, will benefit from further bottle ageing.

Ripe cherries, sappy green tobacco, cedar, and floral notes all emerge from the 2021 Château Du Tertre, a more complex, slightly herbal, yet textured, medium-bodied, balanced Margaux. It has solid mid-palate depth, a smoky, darker-fruited, inward style, ripe tannins, and outstanding length.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 37 hl/ha, 13% vol. alcohol, production 60,000 bottles) Elegant, fresh bouquet, cassis, red and blue berries, cedar, delicate herbs. Fine, tightly knit palate with fresh fruit, good tannin, elegant, silky structure, powerful aromatics, long, fresh finish.

(64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 37 hl/ha, 13% vol. alcohol, production 60,000 bottles) Elegant, fresh bouquet, cassis, red and blue berries, cedar, fine herbs. Fine, tightly knit palate with fresh fruit, good tannins, an elegant, silky structure, powerful aromatics, and a long, fresh finish. 17/20 2028 - 2045

Soft ruby colour, fresh acidities that feel sculpted rather than overly sharp; this has settled in well over ageing, with cloves, sandalwood, plenty of white pepper and sour plum balanced by richer blueberry fruit. Enjoyable, savoury, if a little light through the mid-palate. First full year under new owners the Helfrich family, with the talented Frederic Ardouin remaining as technical director, and Cynthia Capelaere as estate director. Recorded blend different from En Primeur. Tasted twice.

The 2021 du Tertre is deep garnet-purple in color. It hops out of the glass with earthy notes of crushed rocks, charcoal, and damp soil, leading to a core of kirsch and raspberry coulis. The earth-laced, light to medium-bodied palate has nice poise and uncomplicated flavors, finishing with a peppery lift.

A lively nose with green notes that are so typical of this cru. The wine is very fresh and lifted on the palate; in fact, it’s so refreshing you’ll feel as if you’re leaning out of a car window on a frosty morning! Pretty floral notes appear on the finish.

Initially marked by notes of tobacco leaf and cedar, the wine reveals floral and fruity nuances after a bit of aeration. Pleasant on the attack, it features compact, precise tannins and a persistent finish that clearly reflects the bouquet’s fruity nuances. A promising du Tertre that deserves some time to open up.

Beautiful dark, purple color. Intense and subtle nose, with ripe and even perfumed fruit. Delicate on the attack, very flavorful mid-palate, with a meticulously built body, the wine caresses the palate. What’s more, on the finish it gains in presence, with added charm. It’s long, ripe, delicate, and very original for Margaux in its aromatic power. The progression of its stimulation is comparable to that of a great white wine. A few years ago, this cru would have stood out completely in this vintage. Today it shows refinement without weakness (86% cabernet!). Blend: 64% cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc, 10% merlot, 6% petit verdot. Alcohol: 12.98°. pH: 3.73 – IPT: 63. Yield: 37 hl/ha.

Opening on freshness with a touch of creaminess, between bramble and licorice stick, the nose offers a lively take on the vintage. The palate is energetic, juicy, firm and sappy, with well-judged sweetness, wrapped in supple tannins and controlled acidity. Well done!