One of the top wines of the appellation offers an intense nose of flowers, licorice, chocolate-coated black cherries, smoke, cedar and mint in the perfume. With a dark garnet color, the wine is plush, polished, silky and loaded with sweet, dark, ripe, deliciously-expressive fruits. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2048.
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Amsterdam UGCB Tasting (Zuiderkerk): Generous and sexy and spicy as always, but the oak seems to dominate, and the tannins are a bit green. Has it been pushed too far?
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UGCB tasting-Amsterdam 2021 Bordeaux 03-04-2024: A fairly deep colour, firm wood and vanilla without loosing its balance; sufficient body in the midtaste. In the afttertaste smooth bitters, again some vanilla and good tannins make an interesting mouthful, but not really refined.
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Purpurrot. Die Nase ist sofort da, vielschichtig und feinduftig, Röstnoten, dunkle Frucht, schwarze Johannisbeere, Kirsche, ein Hauch Schokolade, steinige Mineralik. Im Gaumen kräftig, wuchtig, der Wein hat Power und merklich Gerbstoff, dieser ist von sehr guter Qualität, die Säure verleiht Frische, ein Wein mit zwei Gesichtern, der bekannten Kraft jedoch ohne die Speckröllchen auf den Rippen wie sonst so oft. Hat Reserven. 2025-2045+ (Verkostet im November 2023 in Zürich bei UGCB)
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UGC 2021 Bordeaux (Vibiana, Los Angeles, CA): The nose is deep and showing off a fair bit of intensity with fresh coffee grounds, incense, dark red cherries, red berries, raspberries, licorice, spice notes, herbs, and some rose petals. There is a headiness to the nose that is enticing and engaging. The Medium/full bodied feel is plush and balanced with medium acidity and silky, medium tannins. This was easily towards the top of the wines tasted on the day. There is a lot to like here as it shows off a lot of depth and richness across the nose and palate.
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UGC Bordeaux (Drake Hotel - Chicago IL): Walkaround tasting. Managed good ripeness with good+ depth. Well spiced and balanced. Maybe less complex than most vintages, but tasty and enjoyable young.
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Union Des Grands Crus Bordeaux (New York City, NY, USA): Mid-weight, fresh, floral, bright and high-toned with fruit. Good mineral undertone, seems like it had a low new oak aging regimen. Another of the better ones for me today.
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UGCB Millésime 2021 (Montréal, QC, Canada): Beaucoup de fruit, notes de cacao, épices. Très charmeur au nez, plutôt atypique de Valandraud à ce stade. Tranchant, tannins déjà souples, beaucoup de concentration.
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11x Bordeaux 2021: UCG Arrivage Tasting of just a handful of 2021 Bordeauxs. Some thoughts: 1) It's a very mediocre vintage. There is not enough substance, many wines seem simple. Especially on the Left Bank, the balance was a bit off (too much acidity, too many herbal notes, not enough fruit... and some showed greenness and drying tannins). 2) 2021 is being promoted as a vintage for "classic" Bordeaux lovers, a vintage for those who liked 2014 and 2017. In my opinion, 2021 does not come close to those vintages. 2014 is more structured, with better balance and often more depth. 2017 is much rounder, more balanced and a bit more polished. 3) We all know the high prices for 2021, so there's no need to chase them (they'll probably only get cheaper in the next few years). Here are some impressions on a few selected wines.
TN: Brief comment, no detailed notes. This was clearly the best wine of the tasting. In a year that certainly favors the Right Bank, this was the only wine that had good substance, ripe and round tannins, and beautiful harmony without any flaws. At the core, there is a fascinating red fruit core that was the highlight. A good wine, but not one to chase, with so many better, more interesting vintages still widely available. 94+pts.
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Bordeaux 2021 Arrivage Tasting (Dolder Grand, Zurich): The most complex wine in this vintage line-up and also for the undisputed winner. While not overly expressive – maybe slightly closed – the level of precision was amazing. Fruit of cassis, red currant, sugar-coated strawberry. The fruit is beautifully contrasted with notes of truffles and spice. Juicy palate, linear acidity and seamlessly integrated tannin.
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(93-95 vvPunkte) Purpurrot. Die Nase ist sofort da, vielschichtig und feinduftig, Röstnoten, dunkle Frucht, schwarze Johannisbeere, Kirsche, ein Hauch Schokolade, steinige Mineralik. Im Gaumen kräftig, wuchtig, der Wein hat Power und merklich Gerbstoff, dieser ist von sehr guter Qualität, die Säure verleiht Frische, ein Wein mit zwei Gesichtern, der bekannten Kraft jedoch ohne die Speckröllchen auf den Rippen wie sonst so oft. Hat Reserven. 2025-2045+ (Verkostet "En Primeur" im April 2022. UGCB) vvWine.ch
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Put your nose in the glass and smell all the chocolate, espresso, black plums, black raspberry, licorice and wet earth. Deep garnet in color, the wine is plush, polished, silky and loaded with sweet, dark, ripe, lusciously-textured red fruits. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% ABV, pH 3.5. The harvest took place October 3 - October 15. drink from 2025-2048. 93-95
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85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon from the 8.88 ha estate on the clayey-limestone hillsides of Saint Etienne de Lisse. Manual harvest. Field + densimetric sorting. Fermentation in stainless steel, wooden and concrete tanks. Manual pigeage. ~3-week maceration. Malolactic in barrels. Ageing: 18 to 30 months in 100% new barrels. 13.5% Abv. Barrel sample presented in May 2022. Proprietors: Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud (hence Val-Andraud), the world famous and original "garagists" whose 0.6 ha in 1991 ascended to Saint Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé in 2012. Enologist/Cellarmaster: Rémi Dalmasso Vineyard Manager: Christophe Lardière
A(ccuracy)=2: Deep purple/ruby. Plummy, plush Merlot blend. B(alance)=3: Ripe fruit with firm acid and tannic structure. C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, cedar, cocoa, licorice, mineral. D(epth)=2: Opulent mouthfeel. Full palate and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,2,2] = 9/10
Musing beauty.
For story-telling label graphics, see: [https://www.instagram.com/p/CeVDCxdJ1P-/] [https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/] For a video explanation of WineTally (in 8 languages) see: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2qWL0bXxgE
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3/9/2024 - Jeff Leve wrote: 95 Points
One of the top wines of the appellation offers an intense nose of flowers, licorice, chocolate-coated black cherries, smoke, cedar and mint in the perfume. With a dark garnet color, the wine is plush, polished, silky and loaded with sweet, dark, ripe, deliciously-expressive fruits. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2048.
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3/4/2024 - Zweder Likes this wine: 93 Points
UGCB Amsterdam, walkaround tasting so just short notes.: Full bodied, firm and good depth and length. Good acidity and firm tannin.
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3/4/2024 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Amsterdam UGCB Tasting (Zuiderkerk): Generous and sexy and spicy as always, but the oak seems to dominate, and the tannins are a bit green. Has it been pushed too far?
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3/4/2024 - FransS wrote: 92 Points
UGCB tasting-Amsterdam 2021 Bordeaux 03-04-2024: A fairly deep colour, firm wood and vanilla without loosing its balance; sufficient body in the midtaste. In the afttertaste smooth bitters, again some vanilla and good tannins make an interesting mouthful, but not really refined.
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3/1/2024 - vvWine.ch wrote: 95 Points
Purpurrot. Die Nase ist sofort da, vielschichtig und feinduftig, Röstnoten, dunkle Frucht, schwarze Johannisbeere, Kirsche, ein Hauch Schokolade, steinige Mineralik. Im Gaumen kräftig, wuchtig, der Wein hat Power und merklich Gerbstoff, dieser ist von sehr guter Qualität, die Säure verleiht Frische, ein Wein mit zwei Gesichtern, der bekannten Kraft jedoch ohne die Speckröllchen auf den Rippen wie sonst so oft. Hat Reserven. 2025-2045+ (Verkostet im November 2023 in Zürich bei UGCB)
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2/12/2024 - Swintonblade Does not like this wine: 88 Points
huge gritty tannins, plenty of oak. some fruit showing. not great for me
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1/26/2024 - englishman's claret wrote:
My goodness - certainly the odd man out at the UGC and a reminder of the bad old days. Oak bulldozes everything on the nose, palate, and finish.
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1/25/2024 - MRichman wrote:
UGC Bordeaux 2021, SF: Juicy with dark fruit, toasted oak. Nice finish. Perhaps a bit overdone, but very good overall.
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1/24/2024 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
UGC 2021 Bordeaux (Vibiana, Los Angeles, CA): The nose is deep and showing off a fair bit of intensity with fresh coffee grounds, incense, dark red cherries, red berries, raspberries, licorice, spice notes, herbs, and some rose petals. There is a headiness to the nose that is enticing and engaging. The Medium/full bodied feel is plush and balanced with medium acidity and silky, medium tannins. This was easily towards the top of the wines tasted on the day. There is a lot to like here as it shows off a lot of depth and richness across the nose and palate.
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1/23/2024 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
UGC Bordeaux (Drake Hotel - Chicago IL): Walkaround tasting. Managed good ripeness with good+ depth. Well spiced and balanced. Maybe less complex than most vintages, but tasty and enjoyable young.
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1/22/2024 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Union Des Grands Crus Bordeaux (New York City, NY, USA): Mid-weight, fresh, floral, bright and high-toned with fruit. Good mineral undertone, seems like it had a low new oak aging regimen. Another of the better ones for me today.
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1/20/2024 - Dr.Cork Likes this wine: 94 Points
UGCB Millésime 2021 (Montréal, QC, Canada): Beaucoup de fruit, notes de cacao, épices. Très charmeur au nez, plutôt atypique de Valandraud à ce stade.
Tranchant, tannins déjà souples, beaucoup de concentration.
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11/19/2023 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
11x Bordeaux 2021: UCG Arrivage Tasting of just a handful of 2021 Bordeauxs. Some thoughts: 1) It's a very mediocre vintage. There is not enough substance, many wines seem simple. Especially on the Left Bank, the balance was a bit off (too much acidity, too many herbal notes, not enough fruit... and some showed greenness and drying tannins). 2) 2021 is being promoted as a vintage for "classic" Bordeaux lovers, a vintage for those who liked 2014 and 2017. In my opinion, 2021 does not come close to those vintages. 2014 is more structured, with better balance and often more depth. 2017 is much rounder, more balanced and a bit more polished. 3) We all know the high prices for 2021, so there's no need to chase them (they'll probably only get cheaper in the next few years). Here are some impressions on a few selected wines.
TN: Brief comment, no detailed notes. This was clearly the best wine of the tasting. In a year that certainly favors the Right Bank, this was the only wine that had good substance, ripe and round tannins, and beautiful harmony without any flaws. At the core, there is a fascinating red fruit core that was the highlight. A good wine, but not one to chase, with so many better, more interesting vintages still widely available. 94+pts.
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11/6/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 97 Points
Bordeaux 2021 Arrivage Tasting (Dolder Grand, Zurich): The most complex wine in this vintage line-up and also for the undisputed winner. While not overly expressive – maybe slightly closed – the level of precision was amazing. Fruit of cassis, red currant, sugar-coated strawberry. The fruit is beautifully contrasted with notes of truffles and spice. Juicy palate, linear acidity and seamlessly integrated tannin.
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6/25/2022 - vvWine.ch wrote: 94 Points
(93-95 vvPunkte) Purpurrot. Die Nase ist sofort da, vielschichtig und feinduftig, Röstnoten, dunkle Frucht, schwarze Johannisbeere, Kirsche, ein Hauch Schokolade, steinige Mineralik. Im Gaumen kräftig, wuchtig, der Wein hat Power und merklich Gerbstoff, dieser ist von sehr guter Qualität, die Säure verleiht Frische, ein Wein mit zwei Gesichtern, der bekannten Kraft jedoch ohne die Speckröllchen auf den Rippen wie sonst so oft. Hat Reserven. 2025-2045+ (Verkostet "En Primeur" im April 2022. UGCB) vvWine.ch
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5/20/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Put your nose in the glass and smell all the chocolate, espresso, black plums, black raspberry, licorice and wet earth. Deep garnet in color, the wine is plush, polished, silky and loaded with sweet, dark, ripe, lusciously-textured red fruits. The wine blends 85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. 13.5% ABV, pH 3.5. The harvest took place October 3 - October 15. drink from 2025-2048. 93-95
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5/9/2022 - WineTally Likes this wine:
85% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon
from the 8.88 ha estate on the clayey-limestone hillsides of Saint Etienne de Lisse.
Manual harvest. Field + densimetric sorting.
Fermentation in stainless steel, wooden and concrete tanks.
Manual pigeage. ~3-week maceration. Malolactic in barrels.
Ageing: 18 to 30 months in 100% new barrels.
13.5% Abv.
Barrel sample presented in May 2022.
Proprietors: Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud (hence Val-Andraud),
the world famous and original "garagists" whose 0.6 ha in 1991
ascended to Saint Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé in 2012.
Enologist/Cellarmaster: Rémi Dalmasso
Vineyard Manager: Christophe Lardière
A(ccuracy)=2: Deep purple/ruby. Plummy, plush Merlot blend.
B(alance)=3: Ripe fruit with firm acid and tannic structure.
C(omplexity)=2: Dark berries, cedar, cocoa, licorice, mineral.
D(epth)=2: Opulent mouthfeel. Full palate and finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,2,2] = 9/10
Musing beauty.
For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.instagram.com/p/CeVDCxdJ1P-/]
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
For a video explanation of WineTally (in 8 languages) see:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2qWL0bXxgE
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