Capbern - Saint-Estèphe 2021

matthewjukes.com

17 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe8/2/2022

Impressive from the start and incredibly fresh and clean on the nose and palate, this is, once again, a mesmerising performance from this quiet little property with its modest and yet starry owners. With a heightened rainfall in June, the Merlot was under a lot of pressure, and they lost about 20% of the crop. Having said this, both Cabernets came in around 40 hl/ha, which was encouraging. Good sunny conditions at the beginning of October gave this wine its fleshiness and silkiness. They started harvesting Cabernet Franc on the 4th of October, and the finest Cabernet Sauvignon came in between the 12th and 14th. This is the key to the volume of flavour and the purity, and winemaker Vincent Millet feels like this vintage is not dissimilar in flavour profile to 2016, which also had high levels of Cabernet. Still, unlike 2016, 2021 has a remarkable immediacy and lust for life. It is refreshing, and I don’t doubt that it will be ready to go on release! 17

Jamessuckling.com

91-92 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe6/8/2022

A medium-bodied, firm and very fresh red with crunchy black-fruit and bark character. Tight, fine tannins. Mineral and tea-like quality. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot and 2% petit verdot.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-94 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/2/2022

The 2021 Château Capbern is rock-solid, with wonderful cassis and an assortment of both red and blue fruits, supported by plenty of floral nuances. It's elegant and has considerable finesse, ripe tannins, and terrific purity. It shows the more charming, mid-weight style of the vintage, yet it's a solid wine that will deliver the goods.

Bettane & Desseauve

90-91 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/24/2022

Excellent équilibre général, vinification précise, beaucoup de caractère et de noblesse aromatique. Un trésor caché de l’appellation.

The Vintage Journal

90-91 / 100

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2022

Medium crimson. Raspberry, redcurrant, plum fruits with savoury notes. Ripe pure redcurrant pastille, red liquorice flavours, fine graphite/ sinewy tannins and savoury oak notes. Finishes chewy and long. Some sappy leafy notes, but very good pure fruit characters, elegance and freshness. 18 months in 40% new French oak barriques. 12.8% alc

Alexandre Ma

92-93 / 100

byAlexandre Mathe5/16/2022

Fresh, crisp, and juicy, the taste of Capbern is absolutely stunning. I must give kudos to Vincent’s entire team for their excellent work in achieving such rich and ripe berries' fragrance in 2021. Due to its higher acidity, it presents a significantly more refreshing and pleasant mouthfeel. With the silky tannins caressing the taste buds, the wine emits a gentle and elegant aura. Capbern???????????????2021????????????????,????Vincent???????????????,???????????????????????????,????????????

The Wine Cellar Insider

89-91 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/16/2022

Flowers, spicy red berries and savory underbrush notes open the wine. Medium-bodied, soft, vibrant and crisp, with hints of spice and olives to accompany the red currants in the finish, this will drink well young. The wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, 12.8% ABV. Drink from 2024-2038. 89-91

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

87 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/13/2022

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/12/2022

The 2021 Capbern was cropped at 36hL/ha with a 20-day cuvaison, and matured in 60% new oak for a planned 18 months. It has an attractive, fragrant bouquet of vivacious black and blue fruit, a lovely pencil box element emanating from the Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, respectable weight and acidity and a saline finish. Not the most complex Saint-Estèphe you will find, but commendable for the vintage and thoroughly enjoyable. (12.8% alcohol)

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2022

The 2021 Capbern is absolutely gorgeous. The aromatics alone are so alluring. A whole range of Cabernet inflections leads into a core of bright red toned fruit. Dried herbs, mint, tobacco, cedar, crushed flowers and red berry fruit grace this exquisite, vibrant Saint-Estèphe. Bright acids perk up the finish. En primeur samples were taken from new barrels only, but the final wine is projected to have 60% new oak.

vvwine

88-90 / 100

byAdrian Van Velsenthe5/10/2022

Kiesel und Sandböden, zwischen Phélan-Ségur, Meyney und Tronquoy-Lalande. 28 September Merlot, 13 Oktober die Lese des Cabernets abgeschlossen. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Kräftiges Rubin. Die Nase ist sehr sauber, rotfruchtig, mit dezent floralen Noten und feuchtem Kieselstein. Feiner Gaumen, leicht cremige Textur, frisch und knackig mit wohl dosiertem Gerbstoff, einer feinen Säure, im mittleren Gaumen mit einem kleinen Durchhänger, im Finale jedoch mit sehr guter Länge und Retroaromen, die an Sauerkirschen erinnern. 2025-2037 (Verkostet im April 2022. Château Calon Ségur)

Anthocyanes

90-92 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/6/2022

Assemblages réalisés. Très beau nez de fruits frais et de violette pour une gourmandise assumée et élégante. Très frais. Bouche droite, tendue avec une structure moyennement dense et une acidité maitrisée. Finale aérienne et fraiche. Un vin de gourmandise qui pourra également tenir la distance pour une garde moyenne.

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

byWilliam Kelleythe4/29/2022

Offering up aromas of dark berries, plums, spices, rose petals and loamy soil, the 2021 Capbern is a medium to full-bodied, lively and charming wine with beautifully refined tannins and an impressively penetrating finish. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot that attained 12.8% alcohol.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byGeorgina Hindlethe4/1/2022

Gorgeous eucalyptus freshness on the nose alongside fragranced blackcurrant notes. high-toned fruit, nicely balanced between sour and sweet but with the edges and real definition that comes across as a touch austere partly also as the acidity is so high and to the fore. Lightly framed and juicy with great overall freshness and lift. It's also quite direct, there's no expansion at this point, just straight and taught but well defined and I love the gravel terroir coming through. 3.76pH.