93-95
ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2021 Le Bon Pasteur was impressive both times I tasted it. Vibrant and
deep, the 2021 offers up generous red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, spice, mint and licorice, all with a sense of exoticism that is hard to miss. There's a feeling of real energy and vibrancy I don't recall seeing here previously. The 2021 is one of the best vintages in recent memory. Sadly, yields are just 20 hectoliters per hectare. What a pleasant surprise the 2021 is. Don't miss it."
93
DECANTER: "Concentrated and intense on the palate in terms of depth of flavour - the blackcurrant, black cherry and damson fruit to the fore but set against firm, grippy and quite dense tannins that coat the whole mouth giving a liquorice, spice and slate tone to the palate. It's on the fuller end of the vintage and instead of delicacy you get a good dose of vibrant fruit power and tannic backbone. A bold and characterful wine, really quite abundant with all the individual elements on show. Still super-youthful, with swagger and pent up energy at this point. Lots of potential."
90
FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zartes Edelholz, ein Hauch von Vanille, schwarze Waldbeeren und Lakritze. Schlank, schwarze Beerenfrucht, feine Tannine, mineralisch, zart blättrige Nuancen im Nachhall."
94-95
JAMES SUCKLING: "This is a very balanced and pretty wine with ultra-fine tannins that are integrated and persist through the wine. It’s medium-bodied with lovely length and depth. A focused and thought-provoking wine for the vintage."
90-92
JEB DUNNUCK: "Tasted numerous times, the 2021 Château Le Bon Pasteur is a richer, more powerful wine in the vintage offering plenty of black fruits, graphite, and scorched earth nuances in a medium-bodied, nicely structured style. It has some background oak and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, from a 6.6-hectare site planted on clay and gravelly soils. Fermentation is in a mix of tank and barrel, and the élevage is in 70% new barrels."
92-94
NEAL MARTIN: "The 2021 Le Bon Pasteur has a delineated and fresh bouquet with attractive blackberry and wild strawberry fruit and hints of wilted iris flower. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and substance, fine grip with a fresh and minerally finish. I tasted three samples over the course of three weeks, and concluded this is a great success in a challenging vintage. Whilst in the past I have been critical of this Pomerol, this is an unexpected surprise that I look forward to re-tasting once in bottle. Tasted three times with consistent notes."
91-93
THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Black cherries, incense, espresso, flowers and red fruits show with ease in the nose and in the round, soft, medium-bodied, elegant, plummy palate. The wine will take a year or two for the oak to fully integrate. Drink from 2024-2040."