2021 Futures
Under the name « gems », we refer to unsung producers who make admirable wines due to their excellent vineyards and their own talent.
These wines are always produced in very small amounts, in vineyards maintained as gardens by gifted and meticulous wine-growers. Even if they do not make the headlines of magazines, they highly deserve to be discovered and tasted for their exemplary quality.
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A 6 ha property (92% Merlot) acquired in 2011 by Mr. Thienpont (Pavie-Macquin, Larcis-Ducasse...). After a break-in period, Alcée takes off in 2016, standing out from its neighbours by its emphasis on finesse, minerality and distinction. A wine with more length than breadth.
Already ranked among the "essential producers" in the 2019 Bettane&Desseauve guide.
Revue du Vin de France :
Bettane & Desseauve : 90-91/100
Galloni (Vinous) : 90-92/100 « A rush of intense floral and savory notes lingers. Tasted two times»
Martin (Vinous) : 90-92/100 « The palate has a lovely juicy opening, fine acidity, rounded, supple red fruit and a harmonious, refined finish. This is a seductive Alcée in the making. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
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A 4 ha plot selection from Château Rigaud, La Mauriane is not yet another luxurious cuvée on the right bank but a wine built on fine grain tannins where the brilliance and precision of the fruit prevail. A true gem in the right bank !
Quarin : 89/100 « Nez intense, au fruité frais et mûr. Caressant à l'attaque, délicat au toucher, plutôt parfumé, savoureux, le vin glisse en finale très fruité et un brin discret. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Started in 2003, the adventure of Clos Louie is a textbook case: doll's vineyard (2.3 ha) on a beautiful clay-limestone terroir of Castillon, very old vines (150 years old!) mostly Merlot and red tail malbec, careful biodynamic cultivation, double manual sorting during the harvest, little interventionist vinification, gentle maturing in 500-litre demi-muids. A true artist's wine, absent from the guides but that informed amateurs know well.
Bettane & Desseauve : 90-91/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Although Les Carmes is adjacent to Haut-Brion and its vines were once part of those of Haut-Brion, the wines produced there are radically different from those of its prestigious neighbour. Due to a particular subsoil with the presence of clay, the vines are mainly Cabernet Franc (42%) and Merlot (40%) and the wines, deep and tasty, have an immediate generosity more typical of the right bank than the left bank. The new team set up following the acquisition in 2010 immediately propelled Les Carmes to the top of the Pessac-Léognan's wines.
Revue du Vin de France : 93-95/100 ♥ « Intense, sombre mais aérien de bout en bout, vibrant, cet assemblage dominé par les cabernets (40 % de franc et 35 % de sauvignon) est animé par des tanins subtilement gainés, presque imperceptibles, qui font la différence et soulignent la pertinence de la “vinification par infusion” appliquée par le domaine, aussi judicieuse en 2021 qu’en 2018... »
Bettane & Desseauve : 95-96/100
Quarin : 97/100 « Charnu dès l'attaque et immédiatement minutieux dans sa texture, le vin brille par son toucher et sa chair en milieu de bouche. Il fond au palais, juteux, nuancé, complexe, profond et noble, dans une superbe construction de laquelle ressort une sensation de sophistication, de pureté et de profondeur. Du grand vin fin. »
Galloni (Vinous) : 96-98/100 « I don't think I have ever tasted a young Carmes with this level of precision. [...] The 2021 is a magical wine. That's all there is to it. »
Martin (Vinous) : 93-95/100 « With a surfeit of freshness on the saline finish, tensile with an almost penetrating minerally aftertaste, this will deserve 5-7 years in bottle. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
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The incessant work of Mr. and Mrs. Dief since 2000 is bearing fruit today: in a tense and distinguished style, Clos Manou shines with a vibrant, deep energy, with pure and radiant fruit, combining length and density. Undoubtedly the most beautiful revelation of the northern Médoc in recent vintages.
Revue du Vin de France : 90-91/100 « Cette petite propriété du nord Médoc élabore régulièrement un vin séduisant et délicieux. C’est encore le cas avec ce 2021 bien juteux, aux notes de fruits rouges et à la pointe vanillée. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 89-90/100
Quarin : 89/100 « Nez intense, frais et très fruité. Minutieux en entrée de bouche, juteux au milieu, avec de l'éclat dans la saveur, le vin évolue savoureux, plaisant et sans angle tannique. »
Dupont (Le Point) : 15,5/20 « De la fraîcheur, gourmand, agréable. »
Galloni (Vinous) : 90-92/100 « Clos Manou is beautifully done in 2021. It is sure to find many fans. »
Martin (Vinous) : 89-91/100 « The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, very good concentration and a bit of hardness on the finish, but that will soften, and there is certainly more energy here than in many other Médoc wines. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
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A small estate (12 ha), carefully tended and vinified with constant regularity, Deyrem Valentin is one of the most typical Margaux crus. Distinguished by the Revue du Vin de France among the hidden nuggets of the Médoc, "its Margaux wines draw a delicious balance".
Promoted to "Cru Bourgeois Supérieur" in 2020.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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With a winegrowing past dating back to the 17th century and classified as a 3rd growth in 1855, Château Marquis d'Alesme has nevertheless fallen into decline as it has been bought up (many times).
The Perrodo family (Labégorce, Labégorce-Zédée, La Tour de Mons) acquired it in 2006 in a poor state of repair, with solid ambitions: redistribution of the small 15-hectare vineyard, meticulous work in the vineyard, and a state-of-the-art winery... The vineyard has regained its credentials in recent vintages, as confirmed by the critics' notes and comments.
Revue du Vin de France : 93-94/100 « Voici un vin bien construit, avec une bouche structurée et un joli grain de tanins. Encore un peu compact, il possède beaucoup de réserve et d’énergie. »
Quarin : 91/100 « Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité, pur et subtil. Tendre à l'attaque, minutieux en milieu de bouche, savoureux, le vin caresse le palais. Il monte en finale sèveux et fin dans ses arômes et son tannin. »
Dupont (Le Point) : 15/20 « Bouche dense, puissante, riche »
Galloni (Vinous) : 92-94/100 « The 2021 Marquis d'Alesme is packed with inky dark fruit, licorice, lavender, spice, graphite and new leather. Although not exactly the last word in finesse, the 2021 certainly packs a good bit of punch. »
Martin (Vinous) : 91-93/100 « Now, this has a lovely bouquet with iris flower infusing the lifted black fruit, fine mineralité here. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins, fine grip, slightly saline with a bit of sinew on the finish. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
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The second Pomerol of the late Mr. Durantou, made with wines from his Château L'Église-Clinet and the addition of neighboring plots. More than a second wine.
Bettane & Desseauve : 90-91/100
Quarin : 87/100 « Nez très aromatique, au fruité pur. En bouche, sous le fruit pour l'instant et avant élevage, l'acidité me taquine un peu le palais. Longueur moyenne et savoureuse. »
Galloni (Vinous) : 90-92/100 « The 2021 La Petite Eglise is bright and nicely focused, with lovely energy to match its mid-weight personality. »
Martin (Vinous) : 90-92/100 « It has a pretty, floral bouquet that is, as usual, a little more expressive than the Grand Vin at this stage. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Garcin property (Barde-Haut, Poesia), 5.9 ha ideally located on the Pomerol plateau (between Clinet and L'Église-Clinet). Clos L'Église has been returning since 2011 to a more harmonious, melting and tasty version, similar to the style of La Conseillante.
Revue du Vin de France : 88-90/100 « Un vin dense, d’une remarquable profondeur de fruit, épicé, très cerise burlat. Après une attaque délicate, soyeuse même, la vivacité élevée et la mâche fournie s’affrontent en bouche. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 94-95/100
Quarin : 94/100 « Velouté à l'attaque, suave au milieu, avec du goût et une trame tannique élaborée, le vin monte en finale, aromatique, sur des nuances distinguées de violette. C'est long, très bon, avec une trame tannique plus appuyée que ses pairs. »
Galloni (Vinous) : 92-95/100 « The 2021 is a bit compact, and yet all the elements are there for it to develop into a very fine, compelling wine. »
Martin (Vinous) : 91-93/100 « The palate is quite concentrated, perhaps showing a tad more finesse than the aromatics at this stage. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Like Pétrus, Le Pin is 100% Merlot. But if Pétrus has adopted a more classic style in recent years, Le Pin remains a hedonistic wine, often exuberant, sometimes even exotic. And unlike Pétrus, Le Pin is much rarer (500 cases per year).
Revue du Vin de France : 94-96/100 « Aromatique, ouvert, délié, remarquable de transparence dans ses nuances florales et mentholées, voici un grand pomerol au charme septentrional »
Quarin : 95/100 « En bouche, c'est juste un nuage qui fond sur le palais, d'une grande délicatesse de sève. Belle finale subtile, délicieuse et sèveuse. Irrésistible »
Galloni (Vinous) : 94-96/100 « Bright saline accents and vivid floral aromatics lend energy to a core of red-fleshed fruit.»
Martin (Vinous) : 94-96/100 « The palate follows in a similar vein, a Le Pin imbued with a sense of athleticism, no excess fat, framed by fine tannins and a laser-focused finish. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
- Potential alcohol:
- 13.5%
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Small vineyard of 8.8 ha north-east of Saint-Émilion, property Garcin (Clos l'Église, Barde-Haut) since 2013. Their aim is not to produce yet another "competition animal" but a generously fruity, delicious, creamy, easily and quickly accessible Saint-Émilion.
Bettane & Desseauve : 91-92/100
Quarin : 92/100 « Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr, subtil et crémeux. Il évolue profond et truffé à l'agitation du verre. Minutieux en entrée de bouche et très vite suave au milieu, avec un corps confortable et un déroulé puissant, ce vin prend un petit look italien en fin de bouche, quand le caractère juteux s'allie à son énergie. »
Galloni (Vinous) : 91-93/100 « The 2021 Poesia is a firm, closed Saint-Émilion endowed with quite a bit of energy and sheer power. »
Martin (Vinous) : 92-94/100 « It has a touch more fruit concentration than the Barde-Haut, featuring dark berries, crushed stone and a touch of melted tar. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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An oenologist by training, Ms. Papon-Nouvel owns two tiny properties at the bottom of Saint-Émilion near Canon-La Gaffelière: Petit Gravet Aîné (2.4 ha) and Clos Saint-Julien (1.3 ha), where the vines are mainly old cabernets francs. From the vine to the cellar, she manages all the stages in the production of her wines on her own and, whatever the vintage, her talent as an instinctive winemaker gives wines of natural elegance and exemplary sweetness.
Bettane & Desseauve : 90-91/100
Quarin : 88/100 « Nez intense, fruité et légèrement boisé. Caressant en entrée de bouche, très fruité au milieu, le vin évolue un brin âpre en finale, tout en restant savoureux. »
Galloni (Vinous) : 92-94/100 « The 2021 Petit Gravet Aîné is elegant and nuanced, but it is also going to need time to fully come together. »
Martin (Vinous) : 91-93/100 « Fresh and saline on the finish, this comes recommended (especially if you have a penchant for Cabernet Franc). »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Mrs Papon-Nouvel's other grand cru (with Petit Gravet Aîné). Same organic culture, same sensitivity, same style, with extra flesh and depth. Great wine! Great wine, logically promoted to grand cru classé in 2022.
Bettane & Desseauve : 92-93/100
Quarin : 92/100 « Nuance très chic de gelée de mûres. Délicatement charnu en entrée de bouche, parfumé au milieu, avec une pointe de truffe, très bien construit, le vin caresse le palais, tout en nuances parfumées. C'est très bon. »
Galloni (Vinous) : 92-94/100 « This is a pretty understated vintage for Clos Saint-Julien, but the balance is there. I especially like the energy. »
Martin (Vinous) : 89-91/100 « The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, quite sinewy and nicely balanced. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Rocheyron is the result of a friendly and professional partnership between Sylvio Denz (Faugères and Lafaurie-Peyraguey) and Peter Sisseck (Pingus). Since 2010, they have been investing in this small 8-hectare vineyard, located entirely on the asteriated limestone plateau characteristic of Saint-Émilion: tilling the soil, conversion to organic farming (certified in 2020), gentle vinification at low temperatures... Rocheyron is constantly progressing, and each year offers wines with an unequalled tannic softness.
Martin (Vinous) : 90-92/100 «The palate is silky-smooth, pure and charming, with lightly spiced red fruit and a slightly ferrous finish»
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Bettane & Desseauve : 92-93/100
Quarin : 93/100 « Délicatement charnu à l'attaque, savoureux au milieu, très fondant, le vin caresse le palais. Il évolue avec du goût, délicat, très fruité et incrachable. »
Galloni (Vinous) : 94-96/100 « Dark cherry, cloves, leather, crushed rocks, rose petal and blood orange are some of the myriad aromas and flavors that develop with a little coaxing. The 2021 is a deeply intriguing wine. »
Martin (Vinous) : 93-95/100 « For the first time, I think L'If matches Le Pin pound for pound. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Become a first grand cru classé in 2012, just reward for 20 years of effort by Mr. Neipperg (Canon-La Gaffelière, Clos de l'Oratoire) on this small vineyard of 4.5 ha adjoining Troplong-Mondot. A very large Saint-Émilion, fleshy, intense and penetrating, but with a confidential production.
Revue du Vin de France : 94-96/100 « Fruit rouge très mûr sur des notes d'orange sanguine. La bouche complexe, vibrante d’énergie et pourvue d'une belle concentration est structurée par un tanin soyeux. Cette nouvelle Mondotte, plus austère, n’en est que plus séduisante. »
Bettane & Desseauve : 95-96/100
Dupont (Le Point) : 17.5/20 « Bouche vive, très droite, savoureuse, grande persistance »
Galloni (Vinous) : 93-95/100 « Like all of the Neipperg wines, La Mondotte shows terrific energy and drive. [...] The purity of the flavors is striking. I am so looking forward to tasting the 2021 in bottle. »
Martin (Vinous) : 91-93/100 « Much less powerful than the La Mondotte of old. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, juicy and ripe, well balanced with a silky smooth finish. »More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
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In 2004, Jean-Michel Chartron gave a new impetus to the family estate, with the chance to have an extraordinary land heritage (the Clos des Chevaliers is the best part of the Chevalier-Montrachet, itself considered the best grand cru in Puligny after Montrachet). Mineral, nervous, powerful and long, its wines are among the greatest in Puligny. Rated one star in the Revue du Vin de France guide.
Appointment : Jean-Michel Chartron was doubly elected "Winegrower of the Year": in the magazine "Bourgogne Aujourd'hui" in March 2018 and in the Hachette guide in September 2018.Bourgogne Aujourd'hui : 18,5/20, Best bottle of the tasting Puligny-Chassagne-Saint-Aubin « Le Chevalier-Montrachet révèle ici toute sa complexité de grand cru de haut vol, avec un méli-mélo d'arômes riches, raffinés, d'agrumes mûrs (citrons confits, oranges sanguines), d'ananas frais, d'abricots, de boulangerie... Le vin est à la fois dense, massif, gras, plein et tendu comme un arc, juteux, finement minéral, pour donner une superbe bouteille au potentiel de garde évident. La classe ! »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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As a major player in the Marsannay appellation, Domaine Fournier gives wine lovers the rare opportunity to acquire great Pinots from the northern part of the Côte de Nuits at a reasonable price. With 21 hectares, 17 of which are in Marsannay, this estate produces enthusiastic, deep-coloured, fleshy and intense wines, always on the edge between richness and freshness, delicacy and finesse.
Rated one star in the guide of the Revue du Vin de France.More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Owning the largest parcel (6 ha) of Clos Vougeot and the only producer vinifying and maturing its wines within the Clos, Château de la Tour is the custodian of the Clos Vougeot tradition. Always vinified unstemmed, its wines are powerful (certified organic from the 2021 vintage), structured and long-lasting.
Martin (Vinous) : 92-94/100 « The palate is medium-bodied with firmer and more solid tannins than the Cuvée Classique, fleshier with a liquorice-tinged finish. This is a couple of steps ahead of the Cuvée Classique end should give 15 to 20 years' drinking pleasure. »
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Owned by AXA Millésimes since 1987, Domaine de l'Arlot covers 15 hectares spread over Nuits-Saint-Georges (Prémeaux) and Vosne-Romanée. A domain of excellence producing dense reds but on chiselled structures, wines that are both fleshy and delicate at the same time. Promoted three stars in the 2020 Revue du Vin de France guide.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Owned by AXA Millésimes since 1987, Domaine de l'Arlot covers 15 hectares spread over Nuits-Saint-Georges (Prémeaux) and Vosne-Romanée. A domain of excellence producing dense reds but on chiselled structures, wines that are both fleshy and delicate at the same time. Promoted three stars in the 2020 Revue du Vin de France guide.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
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Since 1994, Michel Tardieu has been selecting and growing wines from very old vines and from the best terroirs of each appellation. Associated until 2007 with Dominique Laurent, known for the concentration of his Burgundy wines, Michel Tardieu has, because of the innate richness of the Rhone Valley wines, always sought to favour elegance and aromatic complexity in his selections.
Promoted two stars in the 2022 Revue du Vin de France guide.In addition to his classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Michel Tardieu produces an original cuvée, the Cuvée Spéciale, 100% century-old Grenache, which is incredibly rich and voluptuous. A superlative wine aged in barrels in barrels of at least one wine (no new barrels to best express the sweetness of old grenaches).
Terroirs : at the base of La Crau on sandy soils
Varieties (age of vines) : 99% grenache (more than 100 years), 1% others
Ageing : 12 months in two or three wines old barrels, and 12 months in foudre
Bottling : no fining and no filtrationMore- To keep or to drink:
- Available February 2024
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%