Beauséjour Duffau-lagarrosse - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2021

The Drink Business

97

par Colin Hay le 16/12/2024

 (St Emilion; 63% Merlot; 27% Cabernet Franc; a fantastically well-situated vineyard of 6.8 hectares on the argilo-calcaire côtes and plateau neighbouring Angélus, Bélair-Monange, Clos Saint Martin and Beauséjour Bécot; aged in oak barrels, 68% of which were new; 13.5% alcohol). Just fabulous. A brilliant wine from a truly top terroir. Cassis, a little red cherry; mulberries and that wonderful cooler vintage Cabernet Franc. This is beautifully precise, pure, lifted and focussed – almost crystalline (more 2019 than 2020). It has lovely quite crumbly limestone tannins, just a touch of oak influence at this stage (reinforcing the slight natural spiciness and white pepper notes of the terroir). The combination of cool cedar with the dark, almost herbal, leafy, purple Cabernet Franc fruit is exquisite. Elegant, gracious and beautifully sculpted by the grain of the chalky tannins, this is an object lesson in terroir and Cabernet Franc. One of the finest wines of an under appreciated vintage without any shadow of doubt.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

par Jeb Dunnuck le 04/04/2024

A blend of 73% Merlot and 27% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) is slightly shifted toward Cabernet Franc, and you have to go back quite some time to find a blend with this much Cabernet. It saw a softer maceration than usual and is aging in 56% new French oak. Gorgeous cassis, graphite, chalky minerality, and a Pomerol-like damp earth note all emerge from this wine, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a rounded, supple texture, ripe, present tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It's an undeniable success in the vintage and will drink well right out of the gate yet also evolve for 20 years if well stored. This estate is now managed by Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse, who took over the reins of this brilliant estate from Nicholas Thienpont starting in 2020. Located between Canon and Beauséjour Bécot, the soils here are more on the south-facing slopes and include slightly more clay, so the wines always have slightly more density and power compared to its neighbors.

Vinous

94

par Antonio Galloni le 28/02/2024

The 2021 Beauséjour-Duffau (formerly Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse) is a gorgeous, refined wine. Silky, aromatic and wonderfully pure, the 2021 is super-impressive right out of the gate. All the elements are so well balanced. Dark cherry, pomegranate, spice and rose petal take shape in the glass, but more than anything, the 2021 is a wine of total finesse.

Wine Advocate

93

par William Kelley le 22/02/2024

The 2021 Beauséjour (Duffau Lagarrosse) is the first vintage made by Joséphine Duffau Lagarrosse since she took back control of the family estate (arriving on April 12, 2021), and both the vintage and her vision for the property aligned to favor a blend of 73% Merlot and 27% Cabernet Franc—the highest percentage of Cabernet since the early 2000s (when some Cabernet Sauvignon was included in the blend too). The wine has turned out very well in bottle, offering up aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with rose petals and spices, framed by a touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, pure and layered, it exhibits excellent depth at the core, built around lively acids and polished tannins, and concludes with a long, mineral and gently vanillin-inflected finish that's discreetly structured by its élevage. This wonderful clay-limestone terroir really shines through, as does the Cabernet Franc; and with some 68% new oak, foremost from Cadus and Taransaud, it's already less overtly creamy than this estate's wines were a decade ago, even if oak integration could be further refined.

Jamessuckling.com

97

par James Suckling le 22/02/2024

N°52 TOP 100 JS FRANCE 
Fascinating depth and complexity with beautifully knit fruit and oak spices. Glossy, bright but subtle, with lightly smoked herbs, berries, white pepper, mineral, high-grade wood and pencil shavings. Medium to full body with juicy fruit and minerals tapping into an extremely long and layered finish. So much finesse here. Lasting well over a minute. A stunning wine from the vintage.

Wine Spectator

92

par James Molesworth le 22/02/2024

Presents loganberry and black currant fruit showing a mulled edge, while savory, black tea and bay leaf notes add range and nuance. Reveals a subtle juicy edge too, giving this a bit more drive than most of its peers in this vintage. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2036. 1,070 cases made.  –JM

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

par Jane Anson le 07/12/2023

Captures the spirit of the vintage, in its austerity and savoury quality, and stands way above it, with finesse and pummice stone texture that gives grip and slows progression through the palate. Lemongrass, peony, rose petals, graphite, gunsmoke, raspberry and redcurrant. Harvest September 30 to October 10, 28hl/h yield, 58% new oak. Camille Devillenaut co-technical director with Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse, coming over from Château Villemaurine. First year with Axel Marchal as consultant, working alongside Julien Viaud, replacing the Nicolas Thienpont team. Tasted twice, this is a clear standout in the vintage.

Decanter.com

96

par Georgina Hindle le 30/11/2023

Pink floral and raspberry aromas, fragrant red cherries and just-ripe strawberries. Incredibly well textured, alive and forward in the glass, this has energy and lift. A really pure and precise bite to the fruit with excellent acidity and style. A delicious, moreish wine, revealing layers of flavour and texture with lovely gentle acidity and a soft, cooling menthol minerality that lingers.

matthewjukes.com

18,5

par Matthew Jukes le 02/08/2022

Following the tremendous success of the 2020 vintage, I was excited to taste 2021 Beauséjour and tour the Château for the first time with owner Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse at the helm. Having seen first-hand the chalk cellars under the winery and therefore gaining a perfect perspective on the stunning vineyard and the soils in which her vines are planted, it was not a shock to hear her response to my parting question. I asked what was she most proud of in the 2021 vintage, and she replied, “I love this vintage and the chalky freshness on the finish”. This is a more energetic, lively, and expressive wine than I could have imagined. The authenticity, accuracy, and direct representation of its unique setting, looking down on Angélus and Le Dôme, among others, is truly outstanding. The phenomenal limestone plateau over which Château Beauséjour hovers cannot make anything other than a unique wine, but the thrilling perfume of violet, cherry and plum is as invigorating as it is delicious. The palate is pristine and carefully tuned for maximum tenderness, and the finish is fine-grained and savoury. This wine might win the prize for aromatic transcendence and Merlot textural delicacy because there are few wines that compare to the mesmerising bouquet and silkiness found here. The palate is supple, balletic and minutes long, and then, right at the end of the experience, the tannins arrive - energetic, mouth-watering and ravishingly scouring. What a wine. 18.5

Jamessuckling.com

95-96

par James Suckling le 08/06/2022

A complete wine for the vintage, with blackberry, stone, black-licorice and light walnut character. Medium-to full-bodied and linear, with very fine tannins running the length of the wine.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

par Jeb Dunnuck le 02/06/2022

A blend of 73% Merlot and 27% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) is slightly shifted toward Cabernet Franc, and you have to go back quite some time to find a blend with this much Cabernet. It saw a softer maceration than usual and is aging in 56% new French oak. Gorgeous cassis, graphite, chalky minerality, and a Pomerol-like damp earth note all emerge from this wine, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a rounded, supple texture, ripe, present tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It's an undeniable success in the vintage and will drink well right out of the gate yet also evolve for 20 years if well stored. This estate is now managed by Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse, who took over the reins of this brilliant estate from Nicholas Thienpont starting in 2020. Located between Canon and Beauséjour Bécot, the soils here are more on the south-facing slopes and include slightly more clay, so the wines always have slightly more density and power compared to its neighbors. 93-95+

Bettane & Desseauve

95

par Bettane & Desseauve le 24/05/2022

Toucher de tannin soyeux qui se déroule progressivement vers une finale marquée par les 27 % de cabernet franc. Élégance, soyeux et puissance contenue, bien étirée par un grain calcaire en bouche.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

par Jeff Leve le 16/05/2022

Right off the bat you notice all the crushed rocks and stones from the deep limestone terroir before moving on to the oyster shell, espresso, blackberries, black cherries and plums. There is an intense mineral essence that comes through on the palate accentuating the red fruits in the mid-palate. There is tension, with supple-textures, creamy tannins and a sweetness to the fruits in the finish. This is quite successful for the vintage. The wine blends 73% Merlot with 27% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV. The harvest took place September 30 - October 14. Yields were low at only 28 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2025 - 2055. 93-95

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

par Jane Anson le 13/05/2022

Vinous

92-94

par Neal Martin le 12/05/2022

The 2021 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse was picked from September 13 until October 1–2, the Cabernet Franc later, on October 14, starting around 7:00 am. Mildew reduced the Merlot to 28hL/ha, whereas the Cabernet was cropped around 35hL/ha. This was raised in 58% new oak, Joséphine Duffau being prudent with the level of new wood in order to maintain what she describes as a chalky taste. It has a fragrant bouquet of brambly red fruit, dark cherries and subtle undergrowth scents, all delivered up in that judicious use of new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and good density, equal to if not better than others on the limestone plateau, yet still quite mineral-driven, leading into a silky-smooth, cohesive finish. No, not a powerful Saint-Émilion, yet precise and detailed. This represents a great debut, and it should give 15–20 years of pleasure, possibly more.

Vinous

92-95

par Antonio Galloni le 11/05/2022

The 2021 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse is impressive. It shows more energy and decidedly linear build relative to the past. It's hard to say how much of that is the vintage and how much is attributable to a stylistic shift under new owner Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse. Either way, the 2021 is a notable success. Savory herbs, menthol, mocha and iron are laced throughout a core of red/purplish fruit. There is so much to look forward to.

vvwine

94-96

par Adrian Van Velsen le 10/05/2022

Dichtes Rubinrot. In der Nase Kirschen, Gräser, steinige Noten, Cassis, sehr komplex. Im Gaumen gut strukturiert, mit merklich Gerbstoff, kalkige Tannine, der Wein zeigt Rasse und Frische, deutlich weniger Opulenz als auch schon. Im Abgang lang, steinig, sehr salin und frisch. Top gelungen und mit grossen Reserven. 2028-2050 (Verkostet im April 2022. Dourthe)

Wine Advocate

93-95

par William Kelley le 29/04/2022

The 2021 Beauséjour (Duffau Lagarrosse) shows considerable promise. Bursting with aromas of inky berry fruit and plums mingled with notions of violets, rose petals and burning embers, the wine is medium to full-bodied, layered and sensual, with a rich core of fruit, lively acids and beautifully refined tannins, concluding with a long, mineral finish. The first vintage made by Joséphine Duffau Lagarrosse since she took back control of the family estate, the 2021 is a blend of 73% Merlot and 27% Cabernet Franc—the highest percentage of Cabernet since the early 2000s (when some Cabernet Sauvignon was included in the blend too). (93 - 95)+

Decanter.com

95

par Georgina Hindle le 01/04/2022

An exceptional wine from this estate in 2021. So aromatic and beguiling on the nose - pure, lifted, completely captivating in the intensity of fruit and the liveliness of aroma with tiny touches of milk chocolate and perfumed blackcurrants. Supple, agile and sappy on the palate, but also so delicate and elegant in terms of the overall profile. Tannins are fine and gentle, persistent but with the limestone terroir coming through in the mineral, saline, graphite elements which linger at the end. There is definite concentration, you feel they got the maturity of the fruit and didn't push extraction. It's not super opulent, but expands on the palate and changes after a few minutes in the glass and as it warms, gaining in aromatic complexity. Really very juicy and pristine with cherry, strawberry and blackcurrant fruit as well as liquorice and dark chocolate. Excellent quality with freshness and appeal, balanced and harmonious with the slight lift and peak of clove, vanilla, cedar bramble suggesting a bigger frame that will age well. A success and extremely likeable. 58% new oak. First full vintage for Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse since she took the helm of her family estate. Tasted twice. Julien Viaud consultant.