St-Estèphe 2021 in bottle
Credit: Luke Carver
(Image credit: Luke Carver)

A relatively strong performance in 2021 with some great wines produced, particularly those on clay-limestone soils: clear terroir markers show through in the best.

Despite 15% less rain than in 2020, and September temperatures the highest in 100 years, yields were almost identical, with many estates having been spared the spring frosts. Some wines are now displaying quite austere tannins and rustic edges, but there are some highlights, too.


Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top St-Estèphe 2021 in-bottle wines


Château Montrose is a specific highlight from this appellation in 2021 with tension and direction, lots of focus and energy as well as concentration. They seem to manage the weather conditions and the ageing really well, producing a very ‘classic’ Bordeaux in the best sense.

Cos d’Estournel and Calon Ségur are also impressive as are some of the non-classified wines from the region including Phélan Ségur, de Pez and Meyney which should offer easy and early drinkability and relative value too.

The worst wines seem to amplify the rusticity that St-Estèphe sometimes offers with dry tannins, some green fruit and harsh finishes. Some wines will need time for the oakiness to wear off and some others should be drunk and enjoyed young.


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

Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines

Pauillac 2021 | Margaux 2021 | St-Julien 2021| Pomerol 2021 | Pessac & Graves 2021 | St-Emilion 2021


See tasting notes and scores for the top St-Estèphe 2021 in-bottle wines


See all Bordeaux 2021 in-bottle wines in score order


Château Montrose, St-Estèphe, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Dark and milk chocolate, raspberries and red cherries on the nose, with a soft vanilla fragrance and some pink floral aspects. Great tension and direction,...

2021

BordeauxFrance

Château MontroseSt-Estèphe

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Château Cos d'Estournel, St-Estèphe, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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This stands out for its structure, subtle power, balance and finesse. Perfumed and softly sweet on the nose, ripe and concentrated, glorious and inviting. Creamy...

2021

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Château Cos d'EstournelSt-Estèphe

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Château Calon Ségur, St-Estèphe, 3ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Gentle cherry blossom fragrance with raspberry, cranberry and red cherry. Floral and super aromatic. Tangy and clean, a lovely crystalline aspect to the palate -...

2021

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Château Calon SégurSt-Estèphe

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Château Cos Labory, St-Estèphe, 5ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Gently fleshy and ripe on the palate, this has chew and bounce to the expression with ripe strawberry and blackcurrant with a really enjoyable wet...

2021

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Château Cos LaborySt-Estèphe

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Château Phélan Ségur, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Fragranced roses, raspberry and vanilla nose. Smooth and supple, a nice juicy core. Clean and clear, good use of oak and extraction. A pleasant and...

2021

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Château Phélan SégurSt-Estèphe

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Château Meyney, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Smooth and gently lively, there is nice bite to this, the fruit is there in the background, cool blueberries, cola and liquorice while the tannins...

2021

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Château MeyneySt-Estèphe

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Château de Pez, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Juicy and lively, bright and vibrant with a crisp texture to the red berry fruit with creamy sides and a hint of graphite and wet...

2021

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Château de PezSt-Estèphe

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Château Lilian Ladouys, St-Estèphe, Cru Bourgeois, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Round and almost fleshy, this has a nice filling texture with sweet, sour and sharp fruit - lovely bright and fresh raspberries and strawberries with...

2021

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Château Lilian LadouysSt-Estèphe

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Château Le Boscq, St-Estèphe, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Perfumed and potent on the nose, clearly ripe and concentrated. Smooth and silky, quit lean and streamlined, not so textured more grippy with bite and...

2021

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Château Le BoscqSt-Estèphe

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Château Lafon-Rochet, St-Estèphe, 4ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Super ripe and perfumed on the nose. Bright, almost searing on the palate then chalky with a crystalline mineral edged finish. Clean and precise, lacks...

2021

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Château Lafon-RochetSt-Estèphe

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Château Tronquoy-Lalande, St-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France, 2021

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Nice menthol fragrance to the nose with some pink flowers, raspberries, aniseed, liquorice and cinnamon. Juicy and fresh, there's lift to this, a good bounce...

2021

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Château Tronquoy-LalandeSt-Estèphe

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