Chateau Clos Les Lunelles 2021

Dunnuck: "The 2021 Clos Lunelles comes from the Castillon region and is 80% Merlot and 10% each of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. it has classic limestone notes of chalky minerality, red and black fruits, and spice to go with a medium to full-bodied, round, textured, almost sexy style that's very hard to find in this vintage."

Suckling: "Very clear and mineral with a firm, lightly chalky tannin structure. Plenty of blue fruit and stones. Long and structured. Firm yet fresh at the end."

Neal Martin: "The 2021 Clos Lunelles was picked at 36hL/ha, twice the yield of Monbousquet this year, advantaged by plots exposed to wind that inhibits the spread of rot. Picked October 7–11, it offers a mélange of red and blueberry on the nose, along with hints of wilted violet petals and orange sorbet. It feels more harmonious than the Monbousquet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip and nicely judged acidity (pH is 3.58). There is backbone to this Clos Lunelles, the 10% Cabernet Sauvignon imparting graphite notes toward the finish. This is worth seeking out, though note that alcohol level is high for the vintage at 14.45%."

Wine Cellar Insider: "Black cherries, black raspberries, flowers and chocolate in the nose, the wine shows good color along with ample sweet, tart and salty black plums, bitter cocoa and savory herbs in the supple-textured finish. The wine was made from blending 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, 14.45% ABV. Drink from 2025-2040."

Galloni: "The 2021 Clos Lunelles offers lovely fleshiness and resonance, naturally in the more restrained style of the year. There's terrific density and textural richness. Black cherry, plum, mocha, spice, licorice and a touch of new oak all meld together seamlessly. This has real potential. Best of all, Clos Lunelles should be a screaming value."

Decanter: "Sweet and ripe blackcurrants on the nose with graphite, pencil lead and black pepper aromas, smells rich and ripe. The palate is juicy, softly sweet and succulent but also so linear and direct. This is piercing, not in terms of acidity, although it has nice freshness, but in terms of direction - it’s straight and pure. So focused going from start to finish in one swift motion. This definitely has the graphite and slate touches on the palate, clean and clear minerality with a salty iodine tang at the end. It’s serious, there’s concentration here but at the moment it’s all tightly wrapped up. I like the precision and the overt ‘this is what I am' nature. Nice energy and harmony. Should be a good value pick."

Falstaff: "Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Reife Pflaumen, feines Brombeerkonfit, ein Hauch von Kirschen und Orangenzesten. Mittlere Komplexität, frische Kirschen, gut integrierte Tannine, angenehme Fruchtsüße, Frische im Nachhall, ein unkomplizierter Speisenbegleiter."