2021 Château La Marzelle

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

“Un créateur d'émotions”
95-96
Bettane & Dessauve - PRIMEUR

The origin

Vineyard
14.95 hectares d’un seul tenant
Grape varieties
75% Merlot - 17% Cabernet franc - 8% Cabernet sauvignon
Density
5 700 à 7150 vines/ha
Âge moyen
30 years
Production
35 000 bottles
Situation
Upper terrace of Saint-Emilion formbed by the former Isle riverbed
Pruning
Bordelaise method (2 canes per vine)
Alcohol
13%

2021 began with a milder winter with significantly more water than average, in line with 2020. These climatic conditions led to a homogeneous, regular and early budburst.
The month of April was marked by a succession of nights fighting against frost, a fight that was more or less successful depending on the sector.

But after a very cold spring, dry until the end of April and then rainy in May, this advance in the cycle was no longer the case. Flowering began on the 25th of may and took place
in very good, warm and dry weather conditions. The stormy instability between mid-June and mid-July imposed a mildew pressure that we hoped not to see again so quickly, and which lasted until the end of the veraison. However, four weeks of dry weather will follow, sufficient to generate qualitative water constraints.

Hope is there, and we must keep our nerves to reach, step by step, a satisfactory maturity. The harvest begins with the Merlots on September 30th and ends with the Cabernet- Sauvignons on October 13th.

This year, in particular, our latest generation sorting system, by densimetry and calibration, has worked wonders. Combined with a very precise management of the harvest by plot, made possible by the use of adequate containers, stainless steel tanks with double truncated walls but also 500 litre barrels and amphorae, these tools enabled us to meet our very demanding quality objectives. We were able to harvest a perfectly healthy crop and select only ripe grapes.

2021 echoes an era that made Bordeaux famous by producing a fresh, balanced and

Reviews

Bettane & Dessauve - PRIMEUR

95-96
“Un créateur d'émotions”

Tom Mullen

94
“Delicate floral and red fruit aromas that include wild strawberries and raspberries. A clear and light bodied mid palate rich with fruit. Still young. Mild tannins, brisk acidity. Complexity emerges after minutes in the glass—a deft and easy drinking wine to consider pairing with shish kebab or even sashimi.”

Terre de vins - PRIMEUR

93
“On devine une certaine concentration au nez, le fruit noir dense (confiture de myrtilles) se parant de notes d'encre de Chine. Marqué par une juste maturité, le fruit se déploie avec générosité, sur un profil gourmand, crémeux et velouté, et des tanins bien fondus. C'est un séducteur, qui est fidèle à sa promesse.”

James Suckling

92
“Plenty of creamy oak spices with a hint of dark earth, stems and chocolate to the black cherries and damson. Juicy, medium- to full-bodied on the palate with creamy, fine-grained tannins and a lengthy finish. Give it one or two mor years to let the oak resolve. Try from 2024”

Jancis Robinson - PRIMEUR

16,5
“Cask sample. Rounded appealing nose, dark sweet fruits. The palate is soft and layered, rich and opulent, with a plumpness sand sweetness too. Lovely fruit and a plush finish. Appealing soft style.”

Bernard Burtschy - PRIMEUR

93-94
“La robe est grenat sombre avec des arômes de mûre. Le vin est ample avec du volume grâce à un joli raisin mûr, petite dureté tannique en milieu de bouche qui sera gommée à l’élevage, belle finale de cassis noir.”

Jean-Marc Quarin - PRIMEUR

92
“Couleur noire et sombre. Nez très aromatique, fin, fruité, proche d'un Pomerol. Bouche tout en délicatesse tactile et en richesse d'arômes, évoluant très fruitée, sur une stimulation ascendante, des nuances de fruits noirs et du gras dans la tenue. C'est long et très bon. Vin certifié bio Ecocert.”

Andreas Larsson

92
“Bright dark purple hue and core. Fragrant with wild berry notes, cassis, tobacco and fine oak underneath. Medium weight with fresh and supple fruit flavours, ripe tannin, balanced oak and a long finish.”

Tom Mullen (Forbes) PRIMEUR

92
“Organic since 2020, grapes from this 42-acre (17-hectare) site are hand harvested and this gravity fed juice produced a 80/15/5 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon. Grapes grow over a band of blue clay that is shared with Château Figeac and Château Cheval Blanc. Aged in new oak and also 20% in French and Italian clay amphorae. They lost almost 40% of fruit in 2021 due to frost. Aromas of rich red fruit, Dutch licorice, acorns and raspberries. In the mouth the tannins are sleek, the acidity bright and the red plum flavors and those of black fruits well balanced. This will evolve slowly over decades, releasing subtle flavors over time.”

Tamilyn Currin - Jancis Robinson

16
“Dark-fruited and spicy, vanilla-pod-scented roundness. Tarragon and chervil herbs. Liquorice root and elderberry. Restrained, composed and well-balanced ripeness. Finely gritty tannins.”

Alexandre Ma - PRIMEUR

91-93

James Suckling - PRIMEUR

91-92
“Blueberries and crushed stones with some fresh herbs and black cherries. Medium bodied with hints of sweet tobacco and wet earth. Fine-tannined finish.”

Markus Del Monego - PRIMEUR

92+
“"Dark purple colour with violet hue and black core. Aromatic nose combining fresh fruit with fine toasting, blackberries, sloe and elderberries, dark chocolate and hints of cold smoke. In the background aromatic herbs and floral hints. On the palate well structured with rather medium body yet convincing length, firm yet ripe tannins and juicy fruit."”

Alexandre Ma

91
“Château La Marzelle 2021 is a portrait of effortless control and harmonious balance, with its velvety tannins and warm mouthfeel offering a picture as beautiful as a ‘lotus rising out of water.’ This is the classic image presented by La Marzelle in 2021, making it one of the fancy wines of this vintage. Its soft body, a hallmark of its sandy soil, is highly distinctive. If only the tannins could be a bit more subdued in the finish, it would surely elevate even further.”

Colin Hay

91
“(St Emilion; 75% Merlot; 17% Cabernet Franc; 8% Cabernet Sauvignon; 13% alcohol; tasted in Paris and then at the Association des Grands Crus Classés de St Emilion’s tasting at Chateau Dassault; 13.5% alcohol). Tasted just after the Vignonble Jade wines, this is darker in the glass and more extracted. The oak, too, is rather more noticeable. Sandalwood, dark berry and stone fruit, a pleasing creaminess and sweet spices – a little vanilla, nutmeg and frangipane too. The natural sweetness to the fruit gives this a lift, especially in the context of a horizontal tasting of wines from the vintage in St Emilion. This builds nicely through the mid palate and we have depth, density, concentration and length without dryness in the tannins nor any aggressive acidity. A success that shows the ongoing progress being made here in recent vintages.”

Peter Moser Falstaff - PRIMEUR

91
“Deep ruby red, purple hues at the narrow rim. Fine toasty aromas, hints of nougat and black cherries, subtle notes of coconut and caramel. Juicy, red cherries, inte-grated tannins, taut finish; will need its time, a fresh food companion.”

Christer Byklum - PRIMEUR

90-92
“Ruby, blackberries, anise, spices, dark fruits nose, liquorice. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blackberries and liquorice, nuanced, long.”

The drink business Colin Hay - PRIMEUR

90-92
“La Marzelle (St Emilion; 75% Merlot; 17% Cabernet Franc; 8% Cabernet Sauvignon; 13% alcohol; tasted in Paris and then at the Association des Grands Crus Classés de St Emilion’s tasting at Chateau Dassault). Very dark and extracted for the vintage and reductive on the nose at first. Black cherry, liquorice and cassis with a hint of graphite. Impressively svelte tannins and a lovely gentle attack, this builds nicely through the mid palate and we have depth, density, concentration and length without dryness in the tannins nor any aggressive acidity. Quite a success, and confirmation of the steady progression here.”

Jeff Leve - PRIMEUR

90
“Silky, soft and supple, the wine is refined and loaded with ripe, sweet, polished, fresh, red fruits, licorice, cocoa and plums that are on display in the mid=palate though to the finish. Drink from 2023-2036.”

Yves Beck PRIMEUR

90-92
“75% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. Très invitant ce bouquet avec ses notes chocolatées suivies de nuances de baies noires mûres et de poivre de Sichuan. L'attaque, quant à elle, est plutôt timide, à l'image du palais. Il est d'expression modérée mais parfaitement équilibré et bien soutenu par sa structure ainsi que des tannins suaves, quoique légèrement asséchant en fin de bouche. L'élevage va certainement arrondir les angles.”

Ronald de Groot - PRIMEUR

4,5/5 *
“Geur: mooi fruit, kersen, munt, laurier, cassis Smaak: rijp, mooie zuren, puur, elegant, fijn”

Niklas Jörgensen - PRIMEUR

93
“75% merlot, 17% cabernet franc och resten cabernet sauvignon. Bläckmörk, mogen cassisdominerande frukt med björnbär och plommon i sällskap. Tobak, choklad och kaffeböner i cederrosten och läckert och elegant fästande tanniner med ett juicy fäste liksom citrusfärgade mineraler i basen. Hittar helt rätt i argangen och intas ungt ocvh kommande 12-15 aren.”

The vintages of

2023 Château La Marzelle

A well-balanced vintage with silky, elegant tannins expressing the aromatic fruit supported by the necessary tension

2022 Château La Marzelle

2022, a warm, dry and great vintage, which confirms the climatic evolution

2020 Château La Marzelle

Aromas of black fruit, cherries and fine spices. Elegant and velvety on the palate, with a pleasant density. The finish is long, fresh and expressive

2019 Château La Marzelle

A superb nose bursting with fresh black fruit, with a creamy, spicy base. Good, sappy, fragrant length

2018 Château La Marzelle

Lots of freshness with notes of ripe black fruit. Black cherry on the palate, with a high tannin content but a well-constructed, fresh whole

2017 Château La Marzelle

Very aromatic, with pure, ripe fruit. Immediately melting on the palate, very fruity, the wine develops on an airy yet present body

2016 Château La Marzelle

Freshness on the nose with a delicate coating of black fruit. Silky and velvety on the palate, this wine expresses itself with great delicacy

2015 Château La Marzelle

Beautiful density and delicious depth for a wine that has gained a great deal in elegance and texture in recent years and that confirms itself brilliantly in this vintage

2014 Château La Marzelle

Superb core of ripe fruit with berry and cherry character. Full-bodied, smooth and velvety

2013 Château La Marzelle

An attractive red wine with ripe black fruit and coffee bean character. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins

2012 Château La Marzelle

Supple, with elegant tannins and subtle freshness

2011 Château La Marzelle

Notes of red and black fruit intermingled with flowers, earth and barrel. Good acidity, freshness and a surprising texture

2010 Château La Marzelle

The freshness of this material is very well extracted, with great finesse. Long, racy finish

2009 Château La Marzelle

Aromas of ripe black fruit and minerals follow through to a full body, with soft, velvety tannins and a long finish

2008 Château La Marzelle

A fine change in the style of the vintage towards greater balance and freshness: very fine, deep volume, dark fruit, intense and long

2007 Château La Marzelle

Elegant nose with wild fruit and mineral notes. Generous palate and pleasant texture

2006 Château La Marzelle

Good body, generous texture, well-extracted tannin, a wine with a strong personality

2005 Château La Marzelle

Intense garnet-red, brilliant, very aromatic, generous, spicy. Elegant and harmonious

2004 Château La Marzelle

The nose is aromatic, woody and well balanced. On the palate, the work is precise, with a delicious structure that unfolds with charm

2003 Château La Marzelle

A great, full-bodied wine, intense in colour, with rich, powerful tannins, yet very elegant