Louis-Benjamin Dagueneau 'XXI' VdF 2021

The only wine produced by Dagueneau from the 2021 harvest, XXI is blended from each of the domaine's terroirs, including those parcels that would usually go into Pur Sang, Buisson-Renard, Les Monts-Damnes, and of course, Silex. There's even a drop of fruit from the legendary Clos du Calvaire in Saint-Andelain, replanted in 2011. Aged on lees for 10 months in a variety of oak vessels, it's a super racy, vibrant wine immediately redolent of all kinds of citrus, fresh herbs and those salty, chalky, mineral Dagueneau clues. The texture is compact and svelte - almost reminiscent of the domaine's wines of old before the onset of warmer and earlier harvests - with bracing tangy freshness on the long, juicy, pithy close. A great success from an otherwise dispiriting vintage.

'After a solar vintage with exotic notes in 2020, which is in top form today, 2021 returns to a fresher balance, with noble herbal notes that have become rare in recent years. Nevertheless, this XXI draws on an extremely tasty richness, well nourished by meticulous wood aging (barrels, demi-muids). A delicate texture, supported by beautiful bitters. Patience [required]. As usual, this Sauvignon will be very restrained in its youth. It will need five to six years to relax and loosen up. No doubt, it will evolve serenely for more than fifteen years.' 94 points, La Revue du vin de France.