2021, Aile d'Argent 1er Cru Classé, BORDEAUX Blanc

Bordeaux Blanc Blend: Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon.

Beautiful intensity and grip through the palate, this shows white pear, juicy citrus, and slate-filled salinity on the finish. Great stuff, with teasingly drawn out flavours, lift and tension, and hidden depths. Some frost meant the yields were lower than normal at 32hl/h. 15% malolactic fermentation to soften the acidities, with Sauvignon Gris vines included within the Sauvignon Blanc count, and no Muscadelle in the blend as the vines have now been uprooted, giving a slight break in style (for the better in my opinion). 96 Jane Anson.

The 2020 Aile d'Argent was picked early, from August 24, to keep the acidity, with no skin contact and no malolactics in the final blend. The winemaking team used all the Sauvignon Gris to obtain richness, and the wine will be bottled in early June. It has an alluring, perfumed bouquet of honeysuckle, orange pith and lime scents, very well defined and the oak skilfully integrated. The palate is smooth in texture, displaying just the right amount of bitterness to lend edge on the entry, and quite tangy compared to recent vintages, featuring lime, melon and gooseberry notes, touches of lemongrass coming through toward the finish. Delicious. 91-93 Neal Martin.

Sharp lemon and lime, grapefruit and apricot and peach - exotic yellow fruits and fresh white stone fruits. Lovely clarity and weight on the palate, it has the density and the texture, juicy but not too much, lively but not too much. Just a wonderful crystalline aspect - absolute purity but with the depth coming from the slightly exotic fruit - pineapple with peach and zest citrus fruits that add sweetness and bitterness while a lick of slate gives a salty tang. Rich but also light and playful - excellent balance and overall delectability. So many details on show. 96 Georgina Hindle, Decanter.