Grand Village Rouge 2021 (750ML)

94 DE / 93 WA / 92 JD / 92 JS / 91 AG / 91 VM / 91 JA / 91 WCI / 91 FS / 16 JR

Wine Advocate Sleeper of the Vintage

Softly floral-touched blackcurrants - violet and lilac, quite a subtle perfumed tone to them but giving such expressive aromas to the nose with touches of smoked earth and sweet milk chocolate. Juicy and succulent, a whoosh of bright fruit juice - red cherry and strawberry - really so lively then straightens and becomes more direct. Lots of minerality and salinity on show, lifted and aerial. The structure and frame comes more towards the end rather than on the mid-palate, growing in depth and density until a noticeable weight appears with a mineral, salty, iodine finish. Elegant from the start however, finessed with freshness and such supreme approachability. Utterly lovely. -Georgina Hindle, Decanter

The 2021 Grand Village, a blend of 48% Merlot (picked on the 17th and 24th of September) and 52% Cabernet Franc (picked on the 2nd of October), is undoubtedly one of the best values in Bordeaux, revealing a fresh, gourmand bouquet with aromas of raspberry, cassis, spring flowers and loamy soils. Medium-bodied, tense and elegant with a supple, velvety texture, it’s perfectly balanced with powdery tannins and a long, mouthwatering, sleek finish that enhances its drinkability. While it offers plenty of immediate charm, it also has the structure to age over the next decade. - Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate

The 2021 Grand Village (Lafleur) is stunningly good in the vintage. Gorgeous ripe black cherry and red plums give way to a chalky minerality as well as complex floral and violet notes that are something to behold. It's deep, medium-bodied, has terrific mid-palate depth, lots of salinity, and ripe tannins. It plays in the elegant, streamlined, focused style of the vintage but has impressive depth and concentration.-Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Grand Village Blanc sizzles with tension and energy. Lemon peel, slate, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper are finely sketched. The 2021 offers a striking mix of vibrancy and textural depth. In recent years, the Blanc has shown a bit more mid-palate richness, and that has paid off handsomely. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

The 2021 Grand Village is a dark, brooding wine that very much captures the personality of the year in its somber bearing. Dark cherry fruit, rose petal, mint, herbs and blood orange lend notable aromatic presence. This is a rare Grand Village that needs time in bottle to be at its best, as the tannins are a bit imposing at this stage. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

A slight style change, for those of you who follow this wine. It needs coaxing out of the glass, which is usually the case with les Champs Libres but not with Grand Village Blanc. It's the first year in the new white cellar, with greater temperature control, and now 100% aged in barrel, which means everything is a little more on the edge of reduction, with reserved citrus and grapefruit flavours, along with an edge of steel. It means you can expect a more serious Grand Village, showcasing the real ambition of the Lafleur team for its white wines. Harvest September 7 to 13. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Flowers, cocoa, cherries, and hints of leafy tobacco with mint pop in the nose, and on the medium-bodied, palate. The wine is fresh, vibrant, and juicy, with sweet, cherries, and cocoa in the mid-palate that carries through to the finish. This is what a vin de pleasure is all about. It is not complicated. But it is simply delicious for now, and over the next decade. The wine blends 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2034.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider

Dark ruby core, purple reflections, broad bright rim. Concentrated plum fruit, blackberries, floral notes with nuances of tobacco. Medium body, elegant red cherries, delicate tannins, red wild red currants on the finish, saline, lemon citrus on the aftertaste.-Peter Moser, Wine Cellar Insider

Richer and sweeter than many but with a dry finish. Aromatically pure with morello-cherry notes. Dark and earthy on the palate. Solid but refined with well-integrated tannins. Drives from the core.-James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson