Chateau Durfort Vivens 2021

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The powerfully textured wine's richness and structure are reflected in the blackberry aromas and toast spice. It is dense, full with concentrated black fruits and rich tannins. Drink from 2028. Biodynamic."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A pretty and layered red with cedar, crushed stones, mushrooms and pine needles. Medium-bodied and creamy. Excellent finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold."

WEINWISSER: "97 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 % Merlot, 35 hl/ha. Verspieltes Bouquet, betörender Iris-Duft, blaubeerige Konturen, Lakritze und erkalteter Waldfrüchtetee. Am feingliedrigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, körnigem Extrakt, stützender Mineralik, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, packt herzhaft mit athletischem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale rote Pflaumen, Alpenheidelbeere und dunkles körniges Graphit wie feine Magnesiumperlen. Sehr klassisch ausgerichtet und mit gutem Lagerpotential ausgestattet."

DECANTER: "Bright red berries on the nose - strawberry and raspberry, softly fragrant with rose petal, violets and dark chocolate scents. Succulent and really delicately juicy with the perfume surrounding the berries on the palate with a soft chalky, minerality coming through from the acidity. Lovely balance, this is fresh and so alive but also deeply flavoured, with the Cabernet (97% of the blend) mint markers in abundance. Delicious and vibrant, still with a youthful energy and a precise tannic structure giving the frame. You can tell they got maturity, but have also achieved perfect extraction giving just the right weight without bitterness or any harsh tannins - and an exceptional length giving an abundance of freshness. Total Margaux glamour on show in a vintage where it was harder to find than usual. A surefire must buy! 30th vintage by Gonzague Lurton. A yield of 35hl/ha. Ageing in 70% new oak barrels and 30% amphoras."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2021 Durfort Vivens has turned out well in bottle, offering up aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with notions of pencil shavings and vanilla pod. Medium to full-bodied, layered and lively, it exhibits impressive depth and sweetness of fruit, not only for the vintage but also for a blend dominated by fully 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, concluding with a long, precise finish."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart mit Nugat unterlegte dunkle Herzkirschfrucht, ein Hauch von Cassis und Himbeeren, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, elegant, rotbeerig, frisch strukturiert, mineralisch und gut anhaftend, ein finessenreicher Speisenbegleiter mit gutem Entwicklungspotenzial."