2021 Lacoste Borie

The 2021 Lacoste-Borie has an attractive, earthy nose with touches of warm gravel infusing the black fruit, lighter compared to recent vintages, but clean and fresh. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly tangy entry and a little more boldness and fruit concentration than the nose suggests, a liberal splash of black pepper on the finish. This is maybe an earlier-drinking Lacoste-Borie, but it will age nicely over 12 to 15 years.

The 2021 Lacoste-Borie is lovely, bursting with aromas of plums and cassis mingled with hints of orange zest, spices and espresso roast. Medium-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a charming core of fruit, supple tannins and a succulent, giving profile, it's already hard to resist. Readers looking for near-term, pleasure-bent drinking will find that this is one of the sleepers of the vintage.

There are dark fruits and Pauillac typcity, with baking spices, undergrowth and slate character, but the acidity on the finish is highlighting the angular tannins. 40hl/h yield (35hl/h yield after selection). Eric Boissenot consultant.