Château Sansonnet 2021

Ripe-fruited, Christmas spices, plums. Dense structure, noticeable tannins, well-integrated oak, not particularly charming, but with reserves.

Shows a gentle core of hibiscus and black cherry notes backed by lightly singed cedar and vanilla. Reveals light tobacco and wood spice elements on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2028. 1,800 cases made, 400 cases imported.

Smells ripe and quite jammy. Sharp and sour, high-toned raspberry, cherry and strawberry flavours that shift toward savoury minerality with liquorice, wet stone and graphite. It loses the thread a little between the initial flavour and the mid-palate—almost too ripe and sweet at first, then acidic, then a bit dry—so it’s still a touch youthful. Tannins are well integrated, smooth and supportive, promising excellent drinkability when ready. Give this a few years before opening.

The 2021 Sansonnet has a composed bouquet with brambly red berry fruit, singed leather and light undergrowth scents, notably open considering its age. The palate is medium-bodied with pastille-like red fruit on the entry, fine acidity and a slightly creamy finish. It will drink nicely for a decade or more.

Chocolate-coated cherries, licorice and espresso aromas come to the surface effortlessly. On the palate, the wine is supple, creamy and loaded with ripe black cherries, black raspberries and chocolate that carries from the mid-palate through to the finish. Drink from 2025–2040.

Ripe, dark fruit, dried plum, black cherry, with notes of nougat, caramel and vanilla. Medium-bodied on the palate, again dark fruit, with nuances of tobacco and dark chocolate. Fine yet still vivid tannins, ripe, citric acidity. Finishes quite lean and long.

Tasted on multiple occasions with consistent results, the 2021 Château Sansonnet is another beautiful wine from this talented team and great terroir. Ripe red and black fruits, graphite, spicy oak, and subtle leafy herb and truffly notes all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a pure, elegant mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great finish. I love it even today, but it will ideally be given just 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoyed over the following decade. The 2021 is 91% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, raised in 70% new barrels, with a portion in foudre as well as amphora.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: fruity, medium-bodied bouquet, strawberries, blueberries, licorice, vanilla. Finely fruity, classic palate with good tannins, delicately muscular structure, pronounced aromatics, fine fruit, bitter finish.

Fruity, medium-bodied bouquet, strawberries, blueberries, licorice, vanilla. Finely fruity, classic palate with good tannins, a delicately muscular structure, powerful aromatics, fine fruit, and a bitter finish. 17/20 2027 - 2042

This has held its promising character from En Primeur, with finesse and depth to the black cherry, blueberry, tobacco and cigar box character. The overall feel remains cool-vintage, and it is for medium-term drinking, with lift and sappy grip through the palate, and chalky tannins that reflect the soils. Marie Lefévère is the owner of this 7ha clay-limestone estate.

Clearly shaped by its élevage, Sansonnet 2021 also succeeds in showcasing its fruit expression. With good density, the wine is suave, creamy, and supported by tannins that provide a solid backbone. The finish needs to open up; a little cellaring will bring the necessary roundness. A wine true to its style with good aging potential.

The nose is elegant, precise and offers a certain power and concentration with elegance and accuracy, with a smooth, indulgent grain. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, ripe pulpy berries and, more subtly, licorice, combined with touches of cornflower, fine almost-roasted hints and discreet notes of nutmeg. The palate is fruity and offers elegance, accuracy and suppleness. It is fresh and gourmet, with lovely roundness and fine balance. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/tangy blueberry, juicy/tangy blackcurrant and, more subtly, tangy morello cherry, as well as hints of cornflower, star anise/licorice and discreet undertones of vanilla on the finish. Good length. Elegant, smooth tannins. Precision, minerality, freshness and bright fruit, with a lovely smoothness and indulgence on the finish/persistence.

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. A hint of black cherries. Delicate on the attack, with a caressing touch and a soft, juicy mid-palate; the wine unfolds long, tasty, and pleasant, with no tannic edges. Blend: 91% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 13.5% – pH: 3.48. Yield: 31.5 hl/ha.

The 2021 Sansonnet is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It has notes of baked black plums and blackberry pie, leading to hints of cracked black pepper, dried herbs, and wet slate. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound, with a racy backbone and lightly chewy tannins, finishing with an herbal lift.

This grand chateau, situated at the summit of the Saint-Émilion plateau, is the home of a stylish wine. With black cherry aromas and ripe tannins, the wine is solid, succulent. Spice and fine black-fruit acidity show potential. Drink from 2027.