2021 Le Prieure (St-Emilion)

The 2021 Le Prieure has a fleshy and open bouquet with smudged red berry fruit, orange pith and potpourri scents, the latter becoming more prominent with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a citric entry, linear and lightly spiced. It just does not quite muster the complexity on the finish I was anticipating from barrel, ending up a rather conservative Saint-Emilion, though one that is balanced with a fresh, peppery finish. 90 points

The 2021 Le Prieure is a pretty wine, but in this vintage it comes across as a bit lithe and lacking in depth. Sweet floral and spice accents lead into a core of bright, delineated fruit. Le Prieure has been top-notch in recent years, but the 2021 is a bit underwhelming. 90-92 points

This goes long on powerful sappy fruits that smack of austerity and yet manage to turn moreish with salty-cracker salinity by the close of play. A big tannic frame, needs to soften further over ageing. 16.1hl/h yield, tasted twice. Vincent Millet director, Penelope Godefroy winemaker, Jean-Claude Berrouet consultant. 89 points