Chateau Le Bon Pasteur 2021

JAMES SUCKLING: "Refined and integrated oak gives a classy touch to the fruit. Smoke, cigar box and hints of truffle, cocoa beans and sandalwood to the ripe cherries and blackberries. Medium body on the palate with fine, dusty tannins and a slightly chewy but very extensive finish. Give it one or two more years. Try from 2024 through to 2032."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowers, black cherries, espresso, licorice, mint, and red plums create the perfume. The medium-bodied palate is even better with its freshness, purity, and elegance that is perfect for the wines cherry, plum, chocolate, mint and raspberry profile. Scoring at the top of my range, this is quite successful for the vintage. Drink from 2024-2040."

DECANTER: "Oaky nose, smells heavily extracted and potent. Great high acidity opens the palate, sharp and bright, before turning quite salty and sombre. The frame is definitely taking over right now, putting the fruit and acidity to the back and presenting fine but massy tannins and lots of toasty concentration. Nice licks of freshness and liquorice though. Give this a few years to soften."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Le Bon Pasteur 2021 is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It storms from the glass with bold scents of black plums and licorice, plus notes of cedar chest and fragrant earth in the background. Medium-bodied, the palate is bright, crunchy, and refreshing, with approachable tannins and a savory finish."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2021 Château Le Bon Pasteur is terrific, with a ripe, yet concentrated, balanced style. Ripe red and black fruits, chocolate, leafy herbs, and some loamy earth/graphite notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, with a layered, ripe, supple mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and outstanding length. I'd happily drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years. The 2021 is a normal 80/20 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc brought up in 70% new French oak."

WEINWISSER: "Intensives blaubeeriges Bouquet, Heidelbeersaft, schwarzes Johannisbeergelee und zarte Fliedernoten. Am kompakten Gaumen mit spröder Textur, festem Tanninkorsett und sehnigem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale verschlankt sich der Pomerol, viel Graphit und mürbe Adstringenz, aufgerundet."

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."