Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Ferrière is marked by a historically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. That yields a Ferrière with notable strictness and energy. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Pretty floral top notes reappear on the finish, adding lift. I especially admire the vibrancy here.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Ferrière is marked by a historically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. That yields a Ferrière with notable strictness and energy. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Pretty floral top notes reappear on the finish, adding lift. I especially admire the vibrancy here.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Ferrière is marked by a historically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. That yields a Ferrière with notable strictness and energy. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Pretty floral top notes reappear on the finish, adding lift. I especially admire the vibrancy here.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92-94)

The 2021 Ferrière is marked by a historically high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. That yields a Ferrière with notable strictness and energy. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Pretty floral top notes reappear on the finish, adding lift. I especially admire the vibrancy here.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

Lovely aromatics right off the bat, good spice, white peppers, touches of savoury cassis. This 71% mix of the two Cabernets is the highest ever at Figeac, and you feel it in this savoury, rosebud, leafy character to the palate, brilliantly handled and one of the wines of the vintage. This delivers careful balance, sculpted fruits, with a juicy finish. 100% new oak. Romain Jean-Pierre technical director. 38hl/h yield, harvest September 21 to October 19 (with a three week gap between Merlot and Cabernet). 3.65ph. First vintage with the new cellar. 70% production into Figeac, 8% press wine. Tasted twice, excellent quality.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

Lovely aromatics right off the bat, good spice, white peppers, touches of savoury cassis. This 71% mix of the two Cabernets is the highest ever at Figeac, and you feel it in this savoury, rosebud, leafy character to the palate, brilliantly handled and one of the wines of the vintage. This delivers careful balance, sculpted fruits, with a juicy finish. 100% new oak. Romain Jean-Pierre technical director. 38hl/h yield, harvest September 21 to October 19 (with a three week gap between Merlot and Cabernet). 3.65ph. First vintage with the new cellar. 70% production into Figeac, 8% press wine. Tasted twice, excellent quality.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

Lovely aromatics right off the bat, good spice, white peppers, touches of savoury cassis. This 71% mix of the two Cabernets is the highest ever at Figeac, and you feel it in this savoury, rosebud, leafy character to the palate, brilliantly handled and one of the wines of the vintage. This delivers careful balance, sculpted fruits, with a juicy finish. 100% new oak. Romain Jean-Pierre technical director. 38hl/h yield, harvest September 21 to October 19 (with a three week gap between Merlot and Cabernet). 3.65ph. First vintage with the new cellar. 70% production into Figeac, 8% press wine. Tasted twice, excellent quality.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

Lovely aromatics right off the bat, good spice, white peppers, touches of savoury cassis. This 71% mix of the two Cabernets is the highest ever at Figeac, and you feel it in this savoury, rosebud, leafy character to the palate, brilliantly handled and one of the wines of the vintage. This delivers careful balance, sculpted fruits, with a juicy finish. 100% new oak. Romain Jean-Pierre technical director. 38hl/h yield, harvest September 21 to October 19 (with a three week gap between Merlot and Cabernet). 3.65ph. First vintage with the new cellar. 70% production into Figeac, 8% press wine. Tasted twice, excellent quality.

Decanter (94)

Intensely perfumed on the nose, so expressive and aromatic with dark chocolate and blackcurrant liqueur aspects. Juicy, fresh, playful, lifted and upfront - this has a lot going on. It's lightly framed with a lifted nature on the palate, the flavours all vertical and expansive but not heavy. It's a delicate style in terms of structure but the flavours are persistent and really fill the mouth with a brightness as well as minty, chocolate, liquorice fresh tannins. I love this one - a real success of the vintage. Usually 70-75% Merlot, so this is a new Fleur Cardinale, the' kind of blend we'd like to have in the future' says Ludovic and Caroline Decoster, with increased plantings of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon taking place at the estate. Consultants Jean Philippe Fort - Michel Rolland Laboratoire. First year of conversion to organic, 2021 saw a loss of 50% production - 20% to frost and 30% to mildew. A fine effort.

Decanter (94)

Intensely perfumed on the nose, so expressive and aromatic with dark chocolate and blackcurrant liqueur aspects. Juicy, fresh, playful, lifted and upfront - this has a lot going on. It's lightly framed with a lifted nature on the palate, the flavours all vertical and expansive but not heavy. It's a delicate style in terms of structure but the flavours are persistent and really fill the mouth with a brightness as well as minty, chocolate, liquorice fresh tannins. I love this one - a real success of the vintage. Usually 70-75% Merlot, so this is a new Fleur Cardinale, the' kind of blend we'd like to have in the future' says Ludovic and Caroline Decoster, with increased plantings of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon taking place at the estate. Consultants Jean Philippe Fort - Michel Rolland Laboratoire. First year of conversion to organic, 2021 saw a loss of 50% production - 20% to frost and 30% to mildew. A fine effort.

Distinguished among Saint-Émilion wines, the Fleur de Fonplegade 2021 is an exceptional libation that encapsulates the finest elements of Bordeaux viticulture. Hailing from the revered Fonplegade estate, this merlot-focused blend is painstakingly transformed into a uniquely velvety and complex wine through meticulous sorting and vinification.

Crafted by famed winemaker, Stephane Derenoncourt; Fleur de Fonplegade 2021 features resilient old vines plunging deep into limestone rich soils to deliver intense fruit depth smartly counterbalanced with supple tannins and refreshing minerality. This vintage displays an alluring nose of ripe fruits luxuriously embraced by meticulously toasted French oak.

Matured for 15 months in artisan-barrel rooms, Fleur de Fonplegade 2021 yields a lengthy finish that continually unfolds with each sip, making every encounter unrivalled. Captivatingly complex and refined, this premium French wine reflects every facet of the terroir and skilled craftsmanship that characterise Chateau Fonplegade.

James Suckling (92-93)

Perfumed and fresh with flowers, such as lavender and violets. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that are layered and refined in texture.

James Suckling (92-93)

Perfumed and fresh with flowers, such as lavender and violets. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that are layered and refined in texture.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93-95)

The 2021 Fonplégade is classy and refined to the core. It possesses terrific depth, with sweet floral aromatics and fine-grained tannins that convey finesse. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and bright saline notes all meld together. Fonplégade is built more on vertical persistence than volume. It is one of the most elegant Saint-Émilions of the vintage and a terrific effort from proprietors Denise and Stephen Adams. Tasted three times.

Vinous - Neal Martin (88-90)

The 2021 Fourcas Hosten is quite concentrated on the nose, offering black cherries, blueberry and floral scents. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly drier tannins than its peers, quite masculine and a little austere but culminating in a pleasant tobacco-tinged finish. Fine.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (90-92)

The 2021 G 'Estournel is racy and expressive in the glass. Pretty floral and savory accents run through a core of dark Merlot fruit. This mid-weight, gracious Haut-Médoc is all charm. The 2021 is impeccably balanced from start to finish. Delicious.

James Suckling (92-93)

Firm, grainy tannins accompany the core of black fruit and bark. Medium-bodied. Stone character. Mineral, with tangy acidity.

James Suckling (92-93)

Firm, grainy tannins accompany the core of black fruit and bark. Medium-bodied. Stone character. Mineral, with tangy acidity.

James Suckling (92-93)

Firm, grainy tannins accompany the core of black fruit and bark. Medium-bodied. Stone character. Mineral, with tangy acidity.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2021 Giscours is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best Giscours in recent memory. Silky and impeccable in its balance, the 2012 possesses magnificent elegance that brings out its pedigreed personality. Rose petal, lavender, spice, gravel and black cherry all come together, framed by silky tannins that wrap it all up. The 2021 is less aromatic than most recent vintages, but the depth here is considerable, as is the potential. Taste two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2021 Giscours is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best Giscours in recent memory. Silky and impeccable in its balance, the 2012 possesses magnificent elegance that brings out its pedigreed personality. Rose petal, lavender, spice, gravel and black cherry all come together, framed by silky tannins that wrap it all up. The 2021 is less aromatic than most recent vintages, but the depth here is considerable, as is the potential. Taste two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2021 Giscours is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best Giscours in recent memory. Silky and impeccable in its balance, the 2012 possesses magnificent elegance that brings out its pedigreed personality. Rose petal, lavender, spice, gravel and black cherry all come together, framed by silky tannins that wrap it all up. The 2021 is less aromatic than most recent vintages, but the depth here is considerable, as is the potential. Taste two times.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94-96)

The 2021 Giscours is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best Giscours in recent memory. Silky and impeccable in its balance, the 2012 possesses magnificent elegance that brings out its pedigreed personality. Rose petal, lavender, spice, gravel and black cherry all come together, framed by silky tannins that wrap it all up. The 2021 is less aromatic than most recent vintages, but the depth here is considerable, as is the potential. Taste two times.

James Suckling (92-93)

I like the firmness and polish to this, with medium body, creamy tannins and a delicious finish. Racy and refined.

James Suckling (92-93)

I like the firmness and polish to this, with medium body, creamy tannins and a delicious finish. Racy and refined.

James Suckling (92-93)

I like the firmness and polish to this, with medium body, creamy tannins and a delicious finish. Racy and refined.

James Suckling (92-93)

I like the firmness and polish to this, with medium body, creamy tannins and a delicious finish. Racy and refined.