2021 Ch Pedesclaux 5ème Cru, Margaux

DUE OCT 2024

Deep colour. Chinotto, bitter dark chocolate, blackcurrant aromas. Rich chocolaty palate with blackberry blackcurrant fruits, fine velvety textures, bittersweet flavours and a lovely chewy long finish. Very good density and mineral length. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 3% petit verdot, 6% cabernet franc. Matured in 60% new French oak barriques. 12.97% alc

93-94 points Andrew Caillard MW

Lots of cassis, graphite, and earthy minerality as well as some chocolaty notes emerge from the 2021 Château Pédesclaux, a medium-bodied, moderately concentrated, yet balanced and elegant 2021. It shows the purity and freshness of the vintage yet could use a touch more density and depth. Nevertheless, it could wind up being an outstanding wine. The blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, pulled from 58% of the total production, and it's currently resting in 60% new barrels.

89-91 points Jeb Dunnuck jebdunnuck.com

A solid Pedesclaux for the vintage, with lots of blackcurrant and blueberry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with medium-chewy tannins and a round texture. Racy and structured. Solid. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.

93-94 points jamessuckling.com

Delicate, finessed, this is carefully extracted, well handled, with clear spice, white pepper, black pepper, cloves, blue and black fruits. Doesn't escape the austerity and subdued character of the vintage, but you get Pauillac typicity through the firm structure and the slate texture to the tannins. It opens beautifully, showcasing impressive aromatics. Good winemaking skills on display here from Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen. 3.68ph, 62IPT. Harvest 12% press wine. Harvest September 4 to October 5. 60% new oak. Tasted three times.

91 points Jane Anson janeanson.com

Gorgeous dark pinky purple rim to the glass. Beautifully expressive aromas, red and pink flowers - peonies, rose and violets and intense, chocolatey cola blackcurrant, just the best combination. Concentration and lift on the palate, this is darker and more seductive than the second wine, the perfume and the richness of the fruits with the dark liquorice tones draws you in and plays alongside the bright, light acidity. So you have focus and intensity as well as freshness and approachability. The two are not totally combined yet but such lovely elements going on and such precision on show. This has tension and a balance between refinement and power really led by the Cabernet Sauvignon. The bright cherry hit on the finish lingers too. A lovely set of wines this year - worth seeking out! 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.71pH. Ageing 60% new oak. 58% grand vin. A yield of 29hL/ha. In official organic conversion since 2019.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2045

92 points Georgie Hindle decanter.com

Offering up notions of sweet berries, licorice, loamy soil and spices, the 2021 Pedésclaux is medium-bodied, lively and fine-boned, with a pretty core of fruit, supple tannins and a giving, expressive profile. It's a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

This 52-hectare, heavily morcellated estate encompasses a wide variety of soil types, though gravels make up over two-thirds of the total. Acquired by Jacky Lorenzetti in 2009, the vineyards have been overhauled, with missing vines replaced, organic certification under way and biodynamic trials. In 2011, important restructuring took place, with fully 11 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon planted at high density. From 2014, a gravity-flow winery and chai has been operational, featuring 58 tanks for parcel-by-parcel vinification. Pedésclaux wasn't a name to regard as important a decade or two ago, but now quality is on the rise.

89-90 points William Kelley robertparker.com

The 2021 Pedesclaux presents strong Cabernet Sauvignon inflictions to playoff a core of dark red fleshed fruit. Spice menthol tobacco and cedar follow adding quite a bit of character to this flavourful savoury Pauillac.

90-93 points vinous.com