Chateau Grandes Murailles 2021

JEB DUNNUCK: "I was blown away by the 2021 Château Les Grandes Murailles. It's another sleeper in this challenging vintage that merits serious attention. All Merlot that saw 20% of the blend seeing malolactic fermentation in barrel and then again in 60% new oak, it offers a brilliant perfume of mostly red fruits supported by classic limestone influenced notes of white flowers, chalky minerality, and white truffle. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and just incredibly elegant, it's a beautiful complete, layered barrel sample that will compete with anything in the vintage."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A definite overperformer, the 2021 Grandes Murailles has turned out beautifully this year. Offering up aromas of dark berries, red plums, orange zest, rose petals and truffle, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, with a layered core of fruit, powdery tannins and lively acids, concluding with a floral finish. It's 100% Merlot from a two-hectare parcel just outside the village of Saint-Émilion."

DECANTER: "The most gorgeous smoky, salty, ripe, sweet, fruity nuances on the nose - what aromatic complexity here! Succulent and juicy, still with quite a high-toned edge to the fruit, just the right side of austerity with the pencil lead and graphite edge to the tannins. I like the power and concentration alongside the tension that gives it focus and makes it little bit hard to taste right now - but this is well made with bounce, push and sophisticated charm. Definitely a dark savoury style, black fruited, showing the muscle and might of Merlot that made it through the year. Ageing will work well here."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowers, black cherries, wet earth, thyme and espresso on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky, refined, sweet and fresh, with loads of silky red fruits on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2023-2037. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2023-2037."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Edelholznuancen, rote Herzkirschen, tabakige Würze. Saftig, kirschig, seidige Textur, feine Tannine, etwas weitmaschig, zarte Frische im Abgang, blättriger Nachhall."