Chateau Grand Corbin Despagne 2021

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2021 Grand Corbin-Despagne shows considerable promise. Mingling notions of sweet wild berries and plums with hints of licorice, petals and loamy soil, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with lively acids, fine depth at the core and beautifully polished tannins. Tasted eight times, twice at the château."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2021 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne offers a more modern style, with plenty of toasty oak in its cassis and darker berry fruits. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, nicely balanced, ripe, textured 2021 that certainly shines in the vintage. As with most 2021s, it's going to have plenty of up-front appeal, and it shows the cooler, pretty style of the vintage."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Licorice, chocolate, black raspberries and flowers and plums show up on the nose. The wine is soft, forward, medium-bodied, fresh and sweet on the palate, finishing with soft, silky, mineral-edged fruits and leafy herbs in the finish. Drink from 2023-2035"

DECANTER: "So expressive on the nose where perfume and floral scents mingle with black fruits. The perfume continues on the palate, alongside smoked earth and liquorice nuances, firm tannins and high acidity, the flavours verging from dark berries to slate, to cedar and mint. It hasn't quite made its mind up yet where it's settling but this has interest, appeal, raciness and a subtle plushness with a long finish."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A fruity and juicy red with plums and berries. Hints of earth, too. Medium body. Medium finish. Some savoriness."