Château Durfort-Vivens Le Vicomte du Durfort Margaux 2021

“The 2021 Durfort-Vivens turned out beautifully-rich, dynamic and super-expressive. More than anything, the 2021 is impeccably balanced. Dark fruit, lavender, licorice, leather and clove all scream out of the glass. Today the 2021 is an infant. It needs time to shed some of its considerable tannin and for the acids to soften, although that might not ever fully happen.”

“A pretty and layered red with cedar, crushed stones, mushrooms and pine needles. Medium-bodied and creamy. Excellent finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.”

“Bright red berries on the nose - strawberry and raspberry, softly fragrant with rose petal, violets and dark chocolate scents. Succulent and really delicately juicy with the perfume surrounding the berries on the palate with a soft chalky, minerality coming through from the acidity. Lovely balance, this is fresh and so alive but also deeply flavoured, with the Cabernet (97% of the blend) mint markers in abundance. Delicious and vibrant, still with a youthful energy and a precise tannic structure giving the frame. You can tell they got maturity, but have also achieved perfect extraction giving just the right weight without bitterness or any harsh tannins - and an exceptional length giving an abundance of freshness. Total Margaux glamour on show in a vintage where it was harder to find than usual. A surefire must buy! 30th vintage by Gonzague Lurton. A yield of 35hl/ha. Ageing in 70% new oak barrels and 30% amphoras.”

“Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. An inviting bouquet with dark, sweet cherries, delicately underlaid with notes of nougat, hints of cassis and raspberries. Juicy and elegant, red berries, a fresh structure, mineral notes and a good, persistent finish. A finesse-rich food wine with good development and definite ageing potential.”

“You’ll find several Cabernet-dominant blends in classified Médoc estates in 2021, like this near-100% example (97%, with a slice of Merlot that was affected by both fruit set and frost). It translates into an attractive deep plum colour, with violet reflections, and a purity to the blueberry and raspberry fruits, far removed from the solar aromatics we have got used to. Cool vintage signatures abound with undergrowth and liqourice bud, and similarities to good vintages of the 1980s in terms of balance and tannic frame. I have been a huge fan of Durfort in recent years, and this has plenty of potential for ageing. Plenty of adapting in the vineyard to achieve this result, including leaving grass and cereal cover throughout to increase water stress. Eric Boissenot consultant. 35hl/h yield. Harvest September 24 harvest to October 21 (later even than the 2010). 70% new oak and the rest amphoras.”

“The 2021 Durfort Vivens has turned out well in bottle, offering up aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with notions of pencil shavings and vanilla pod. Medium to full-bodied, layered and lively, it exhibits impressive depth and sweetness of fruit, not only for the vintage but also for a blend dominated by fully 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, concluding with a long, precise finish.”

“Red currants and cassis with a touch of flowers are in the nose. Medium-bodied, bright, fresh and juicy, there is a crispness to the red berries on the crunchy palate. The wine is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Merlot, representing the highest percentage of Cabernet ever placed in the blend in the history of the property. 12.9% ABV. Drink from 2024-2039. 91-93”