Château Villemaurine 2021

Ripe fruit, plum, wild berries, floral notes. Creamy palate with a touch of gloss and delicate fruit, crisp acidity, fine-grained tannins, has developed beautifully.

A strong effort that has turned out well in bottle, the 2021 Villemaurine offers up pure aromas of ripe cherries and berries mingled with mint and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless, with an enveloping core of fruit, lively acids and a mineral finish, it left me impressed.

High-toned and bursting with energy from the start, it’s light and supple, with a juicy core packed with red strawberry and cherry fruit, liquorice and minty edges. Lovely purity and poise; it’s not the fullest, but it carries its light frame very well, with plenty of ripe fruit flavours and quite high acidity that lifts the whole expression. A nice effort in 2021 and a joy to drink. Clean and clear.

A fresh and refined red with aromas of bark, black cherry, walnut and dried flowers. Clove and nutmeg, too. Medium-bodied with polished, fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Drink from 2024.

92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Slightly austere, but with red-berry aroma and flavor. Quite punchy on the palate, the limestone terroir shows. Tannins firm but honed. Juicy, fresh, if a little dry on the finish. (JL)

The 2021 Villemaurine has an intense bouquet with blackberry, cassis and violet scents, perhaps needing a few more months to fully coalesce. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite vibrant and tensile with a dash of white pepper toward the finish. This fans out nicely with time in the glass. Promising.

Flowers, orange rind, smoke, licorice, spice, and plums pop on the nose, while on the palate the wine is soft, fresh, and creamy, allowing the silky, fresh plums to shine. The oak is completely integrated. Drink from 2024–2038.

Deep garnet shading to purple at the narrow rim. Dark berries, hints of ripe plums, tobacco nuances. Medium-bodied, red cherry fruit, fresh, well-structured, somewhat loosely knit, lightly salty finish, lemon notes on the back palate.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 44 hl/ha, 13.5% vol. alcohol, production 29,000 bottles) Medium, austere bouquet of red cherries, currants, wood, coal. Firm, medium-bodied palate with good fruit, fine sandy tannins, a bourgeois structure, light aromatics, dry finish. Can improve further.

(92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 44 hl/ha, 13.5% alc./vol., production of 29,000 bottles) Medium, austere bouquet, red cherries, currants, wood, coal. Firm, medium-bodied palate with good fruit, finely sandy tannins, a bourgeois structure, light aromatics, dry finish. Can improve further. 16/20 2027 - 2045

Clear limestone impact in waves of saffron and sage, lightly extracted raspberry and red cherry, and a ton of tomato leaf and white pepper. Finesse and elegance, medium-term drinking. 44 hl/ha yield, 80% new oak. Heavy bottle.

The 2021 Villemaurine is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. After a few swirls, notes of plum preserves and juicy blueberries begin to emerge, plus hints of crushed rocks and licorice. The medium-bodied palate has bright, expressive black berry flavors, with a soft texture and a refreshing finish.

A little timid, as if it didn’t dare reveal its intentions and felt unbalanced. Much more massive on the palate with oak still very present, but notes of black and blue fruits dominate, leading to a finish of fresh coffee.

Villemaurine 2021 shows a good symbiosis between élevage nuances and notes of black berries. Slightly suave on the attack, the wine has density and is supported by tight tannins. The finish, fresh and fruity, consolidates the aromatic expression and ensures good ageing potential.

The nose is elegant, aromatic, beautifully racy and shows a fine, racy grain. It reveals notes of boysenberry, bright small fruits and, more subtly, a racy minerality, combined with hints of violet and fresh lily, as well as fine touches of crisp red berries and a discreet hint of pepper. The palate is racy and mineral, offering freshness, fruit, lovely minerality, elegance, a pleasant glycerol feel, roundness, smoothness, and a tangy backbone. We find notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry and raspberry, and more subtly of fleshy cherry, combined with hints of violet and fresh cornflower, as well as fine touches of nutmeg, fresh tobacco, racy minerality, and a subtle hint of bergamot and Bourbon vanilla (in the background). The tannins offer a little sweetness.

Beautiful deep, sustained dark red. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Smooth, juicy palate with good body and enveloped tannins. Persistent finish with a saline note unique to Saint-Emilion. Good, flavorful length. Blend: 92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 13.5% – pH: 3.43. Yield: 44 hl/ha. Harvest from September 30 to October 8.

Under the same ownership as Château Sansonnet, this estate with its spectacular underground caves, has produced a fine and balanced release. It is deeply satisfying, keeping ripe tannins and dark-black fruits in elegant poise. Drink the wine from 2027.