2021 CHÂTEAU BEAUSÉJOUR DUFFAU LAGAROSSE 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion, Lea & Sandeman

CHÂTEAU BEAUSÉJOUR DUFFAU LAGAROSSE

2021 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion

Grapes Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Saint Emilion & Satellites
Village Saint Emilion
Classification 1er Grand Cru Classé
ABV 13.5%

73% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Franc | 58% new oak | Approximately 13.5% alc | 28 hl/ha | 3.60pH | Merlot was harvested on the 30 September to 1 and 2 October and then Cabernet Franc on 14 October. 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. Rating: 18.5 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2022)


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You're not going to get the same opulence of the past five years, but this is entirely successful in terms of harmony, elegance and finesse. A jolt of limestone salinity, lemongrass, oyster shell, violets, rose petals, and a subtle but moreish wave of cigar box and graphite smoke. Unrolls slowly but surely, with evident ripeness to the red fruits, and salt-cracker salinity on the finish. Harvest September 30 to October 10 (able to do so because they got only 10mm of rain at the end of September), 28hl/h yield, 58% new oak. Camille Devillenaut co-technical director with Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse, coming over from Château Villemaurine. Tasted twice. First year with Axel Marchal as consultant, working alongside Michel Rolland (Julien Viaud), replacing the Nicolas Thienpont team. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 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. Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 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. Drinking range: 2028 - 2048 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2022)

Château Beauséjour Duffau Lagarosse

Chateau Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse was built in 1851 by the Laporte family. The Laporte family owned several vineyard estates in the Bordeaux region and were also prosperous wine merchants. In those days, the large chai was used to store and age the most prestigious wines of the Saint Émilion and Pomerol regions (Cheval Blanc, Petrus, Beau-Sejour, Nénin, La Conseillante, ... and Château Beausejour!) The estate was purchased in 1994 by a group of wine loving investors. During this period, the Germain Vineyards Company was in charge of the management and the marketing of the wines. Patricia and Pierre Bernault have owned Château Beauséjour Duffau Lagarosse since December 2004; Pierre himself comes from a family of vine growers, who have been cultivating their own vineyards since 1850. As soon as Patricia and Pierre Bernault bought Beauséjour, Stéphane Derenoncourt and his team got involved in giving them advice on restoration of the vineyard and the soil, as well as on the rigorous stages of the process of making and maturing wine.

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