The 2021 Clos de l`Oratoire has a straightforward nose of red and black fruit, quite compact and herbaceous at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with an austere entry and fine acidity, quite `bony` in style with a welcome touch of black pepper on the finish. But, it does feel a little hard at the moment and needs more flesh to develop. 88 points

The 2021 Clos de l`Oratoire is terrific. It offers a striking mix of dark blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, lavender, spice, menthol and crushed rocks. Dynamic and vibrant in the glass, impresses for its finely cut, somewhat nervous personality. The 2021 represents a pretty big stylistic shift. Some of that is the vintage and some is an evolution in style. The combined effects of those two factors make for a compelling Clos de L`Oratoire. 92-94 points

Exhibiting notions of cherries, blackberries and licorice, the 2021 Clos de l`Oratoire is medium to full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a textural attack, bright acids and a fleshy core of fruit, framed by fine tannins that gently assert themselves on the finish. It`s one of the more gourmand, generous wines in the von Neipperg range. 90-92 points