Pessac and Graves 2021 in bottle
Credit: Luke Carver
(Image credit: Luke Carver)

This region was severely impacted by the frost in early 2021 with the lowest yields of the major appellations across Bordeaux. Quality is uneven but there are still some lovely wines that showcase ripe fruit, high acidities and lots of estate signature – usually exemplified by a wet stone, graphite minerality and clean, lean texture which is straight and not at all plush.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Pessac & Graves 2021 in-bottle wines


Lower alcohols are common across the board as is an easy charm with some savoury accents adding to the fruit.

Smith Haut Lafitte, Haut Brion and Les Carmes Haut-Brion are excellent as is La Mission Haut Brion, Domaine de Chevalier and Malartic-Lagravière.

Many other wines are juicy and fragrant and will be suitable for early enjoyment.

Dry whites

Cooler years tend to produce great white wines in Bordeaux and 2021 was no exception with plenty of lively acidities, citrus fruit and lean textures on offer.

Some whites are still masked by oak and others have green fruit and lack some juiciness but the best fall into two categories – those that are slightly richer and more oily with hints of fatness and acidity and those that are razor sharp and direct. Both have their place for lovers of dry whites in Bordeaux so choose the producer style you like.

The whites from Smith Haut Lafitte, Haut-Brion and La Mission were very impressive as were those from Domaine de Chevalier, Couhins-Lurton, Malartic-Lagravière and Larrivet Haut Brion.

Outside of the Graves, Margaux’s Pavillon Blanc, Lafleur’s Les Champs Libres and Grand Village Blanc really wow.


BORDEAUX 2021 IN BOTTLE SCORE TABLE: Top-scoring 133 wines with 93 points or above

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

St-Estèphe 2021 | Pauillac 2021Margaux 2021 | St-Julien 2021| Pomerol 2021 | St-Emilion 2021 |


See tasting notes and scores for the top Pessac & Graves 2021 in-bottle wines

Wines are listed in score order white then red


See all Bordeaux 2021 in-bottle wines in score order


Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Cool and crisp, this delights from the first sip with juicy lemon - clean and precise. Still youthful but giving so much pleasure with a...

2021

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Château Smith Haut LafittePessac-Léognan

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Domaine de Chevalier, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Clean and clear, a nice weight to the palate here, slightly oily and full with honeyed lemon tones, some bitter grapefruit and crisp green apple....

2021

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Domaine de ChevalierPessac-Léognan

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Château Haut-Brion, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Quite herbal and green on the nose, aromatic but intensely. Full and intense also on the palate, bright lemon and grapefruit, some bitter and spied...

2021

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Château Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan

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Château Malartic-Lagravière, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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A fresh and fragranced nose with green fruit, apple, pear and lemon touches. Crisp and clean, lots of bitter grapefruit and orange combined with creamy...

2021

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Château Malartic-LagravièrePessac-Léognan

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Château Couhins-Lurton, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Clean and crystalline, pure and precise with lemon, green apple and touches of tangerine juice to the expression. The juiciness is taken over a little...

2021

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Château Couhins-LurtonPessac-Léognan

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Château Pape Clément, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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High toned, almost sherbet and wild honey, toasted fruit, a real combination of flavours on the palate with brightness but also quite serious toasty elements....

2021

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Château Pape ClémentPessac-Léognan

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Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Floral and green fruit aromas on the nose. Juicy and upfront, lively and fun, this has zing and focus. I love the almost sherbet lemon...

2021

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Château La Mission Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan

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Château Olivier, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Lemon and lime, nice freshness and sense of lift. Precision with purity to the texture and fruit with lots of salty tones on the finish...

2021

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Château OlivierPessac-Léognan

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Château Latour-Martillac, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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An oily texture but gorgeous juicy core with bright acidity and ripe green apple, creamy peach and softly bitter orange and toasted lemens son the...

2021

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Château Latour-MartillacPessac-Léognan

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Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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A honeyed, slightly wild, toasty nose with apricot, pineapple orange and fragrant stone fruit on the nose. Round and calm, a lovely gentle confidence to...

2021

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Château Smith Haut LafittePessac-Léognan

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Château Larrivet Haut-Brion, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Fresh and fragrant, white flowers, smells clean. Quite punchy on the palate, strong lemon and lime, sweet tropical and exotic fruit and juicy, a round...

2021

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Château Larrivet Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan

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Château de Chantegrive, Cuvée Caroline, Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Nicely lively and well balanced, this has both texture, structure and brightness giving energy and seriousness. I love the citrus and apricot elements with some...

2021

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Château de ChantegriveGraves

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Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Scented flowers and red berries on the nose, lovely aromatics with green peppercorns, herbal blackcurrant leaf and floral scents. Rich and round for a 2021,...

2021

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Château Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan

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Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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You might question this was a 2021 vintage, with its structure, style and charm combined with drinkability and ageability. A vibrant nose: pink roses, blackcurrants,...

2021

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Château Smith Haut LafittePessac-Léognan

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Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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A gorgeous aromatic display draws you in: crystalline, floral with iris, peony and violet, herbal, earthy and fruity. Sumptuous, this is a classy wine, beautifully...

2021

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Château Les Carmes Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan

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Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Green peppercorns and tomato leaf mingle with blackcurrant on the nose. Quite herbal and savoury, earthy almost with hints of fragranced perfume also. Supple with...

2021

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Château La Mission Haut-BrionPessac-Léognan

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Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Cherry blossom and ripe cherry on the nose. Smooth and supple, a nice energy and focus to this straight away with lifted acidity and a...

2021

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Domaine de ChevalierPessac-Léognan

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Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Sleek and pristine and nice crystalline element to this, it's light and lean, certainly driven from start to finish in one line but this has...

2021

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Château Malartic-LagravièrePessac-Léognan

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Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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A herbal, blackcurrant scented nose. Lively and tangy, this has bite and grip, a little more closed and tight compared to Les Hauts which is...

2021

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Château Smith Haut LafittePessac-Léognan

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