Chateau Alcee 2021

Suckling: "Some pretty spice notes here, with licorice, clove and blue and black berries. Medium-bodied with a creamy and plush tannin texture. Supple finish. Sea salt at the end. 91% merlot and 9% cabernet franc."

Galloni: "The 2021 Alcée is another terrific entry-level offering from Nicolas Thienpont. Cabernet aromatics meld into a core of red-fleshed fruit, with hints of cedar, tobacco and anise that lend further presence. There's real depth and density here. This is the first vintage that includes a new block of Cabernet Franc, which works so well in the blend. A rush of intense floral and savory notes lingers."

Neal Martin: "The 2021 Alcée includes a new 4-hectare parcel en fermage in St-Genès-deCastillon (clay over limestone), making 12.22 hectares in total. Cropped at 23.7hL/ha October 6–19, this has an open, expressive bouquet of dark cherries, bergamot and light sous-bois aromas, hints of pencil shavings emerging with aeration. The palate has a lovely juicy opening, fine acidity, rounded, supple red fruit and a harmonious, refined finish. This is a seductive Alcée in the making."

Decanter: "Fragrant red berry fruit, pink flowers and raspberries on the nose. Juicy and lively, delicately framed with a light but expansive flavour in the mouth - feels well worked, open and approachable. I love the minerality on this - the soft saline edge to the fruit and touch of pencil lead to the tannins that then lingers on the tongue. On the right side of austere, this has a long, refined and graceful length. An Alcée with lots of promise."

Falstaff: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Ein Hauch von Gewürzen, dunkle Waldbeeren, Brombeeren, zart nach Lakritze, tabakige Nuancen. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeerig und frisch strukturiert, feine Tannine, salziger Touch, ein lebendiger Speisenbegleiter."