Château Petit-Village 2021

Noble, delicate, red-fruited nose, the oak barely perceptible, clear and pure, with floral notes. On the palate, fresh, lively, medium-bodied, well-structured, showing breed and finesse, with a long finish that is spicy and red-fruited. Very well balanced.

The 2021 Petit Village offers up aromas of dark berries, pencil shavings and spices, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, rich and layered palate framed by a generously extracted chassis of powdery tannin, concluding with a structured, oak-inflected finish.

A fleshy, slightly reserved offering, with dark tea, plum and blackberry notes that meld nicely. The finish reveals a warm earth undertow and ends with a bay leaf echo. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2033. 1,000 cases made.

Delicate yet inviting aromatics of raspberry, red cherries and pink roses. Plump and nicely fleshy, this has a really enjoyable texture, is forward and right in your face for now but has just the right weight and balance, with a gorgeous salty tang to the tannins and cool blue fruit. The tannins are perfect and this also has the potential to age. Delicious.

Vibrant and energetic wine with juicy blue plums and black cherries followed by violets, Christmas spices, cocoa and a touch of fresh herbs. Some hazelnut. Full- to medium-bodied, bright acidity with finely grained tannins that are polished and textured. Wonderful concentration with a lively vibrancy and density to it. 65% merlot, 26% cabernet franc and 9% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2025.

The 2021 Petit-Village, matured in 50% new oak, has a well-defined bouquet with blackberry, briar, cedar and a touch of iodine, a little muted at first, but it gains intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and a crisp bead of acidity, lightly spiced with a cohesive and quite persistent finish. This is very harmonious, and there seems to be more substance here than previous off-vintage Petit-Village, testifying to the changes in this estate. It should give up to 20 years' drinking pleasure.

One of the darker-hued efforts of the vintage, the 2021 Château Petit-Village is composed of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, and was aged in 50% new oak. While it doesn’t match previous vintages, it’s an undeniable success for the year, offering beautiful darker cherry and cassis-driven fruit along with notes of spicy wood, smoked tobacco, and damp earth. Medium-bodied and balanced, with good concentration and ripe tannins, as well as beautifully integrated oak, it’s well worth drinking and following over the coming decade or more. Bravo!

65% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 hl/ha, 13.5% vol. Delicate bouquet, ripe morello cherry, red currant candy and seductive violet, with a hint of iris and lingonberry behind. On the subtle palate with silky texture, lovely sweetness of extract, balanced drive and a tight-knit tannin structure. Concentrated finish with red-berry notes, light graphite and noble astringency.

Well built, with plenty of dark chocolate, raspberry leaf, cocoa bean, liquorice, and cassis and plum fruits. The tannins are formal and austere rather than silky, but there is clear precision and finesse. Tasted twice. First full year under the new team after AXA Millésimes sold to the Moulin family of Galeries Lafayette. Augustin Belloy is now heading things up for the owning family, with Vincent Priou as estate director and Guillaume Fredoux as technical director.

A blend of 65% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2021 Petit-Village has a deep garnet-purple color. Scents of black cherries, juicy black plums, and wild blueberries spill from the glass, with suggestions of cedar chest, rose oil, and chargrill. The medium-bodied palate delivers a great core of black fruit flavors, with a grainy texture and a long, mineral-laced finish.

A chocolaty, refined, fresh and sapid nose, with well-balanced red fruits. The palate shows the same savory freshness, juicy and delightful. Behind that, a growing concentration of fruit emerges, with notes of crisp red berries, and a gourmet finish of freshly ground coffee. Very successful.

Petit-Village shows depth right from the start and instantly brings to mind this estate’s glory years. The bouquet is enticing in its own right; it sets a gourmet tone, awakens the senses, and is captivating. On the palate, finesse naturally draws the guiding thread, yet the power is not pushed aside; on the contrary, it elevates itself and highlights the terroir’s ability to deliver vigor, regardless of the vintage. After the exceptional 2020, the 2021 only confirms the sound choices made by the Petit-Village team. A brilliant wine that can rightfully claim to stand alongside the other great growths of the appellation. A magnificent success.

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose with ripe, subtle fruit, showing a hint of orange when the glass is swirled (presence of Cabernet Sauvignon). Soft, melting palate that develops with savory delicacy, with a pulpy sensation already noted in the 2000 vintage. Fine, nuanced tannin. It’s very good. Blend: 65% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol: 13.5% – pH: 3.75. Yield: 25 hl/ha. Estate on the rise.

Cherries, flowers, and a touch of cocoa shine through on the nose and on the medium-bodied, soft, refined, plummy palate. This is perfect for early drinking pleasure. Drink from 2024–2030.

The solid tannins of this rich wine are full of potential. It has a dense character with firm black fruits and powerful Merlot. The wine will age well: think about drinking from 2027.