2021 Château Capbern En Primeur
Despite having the same owners and team as St-Estèphe super-star Calon-Ségur, Château Capbern has remained relatively under the radar when compared to its more famous sibling. That's good news for us (and you) as the 2021 Château Capbern is superb value, receiving similar scores to the 2020 vintage from the majority of the critics.
This latest vintage of Capbern offers all the classic characteristics of St-Estèphe terroir; black fruits, tobacco, cedar or pencil box and a mineral-saline finish, all framed by a beautifully moderate 12.8% alcohol and a finesse which points to its rather smart background.
Please let us know if you would like to add some to your cellar.
Bordeaux En Primeur, Landing in spring 2024.
To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
Château Capbern, Saint-Estèphe Cru Bourgeois
Château Capbern (known as Capbern-Gasqueton until 2014) is a Cru Bourgeois in Saint-Estèphe. A long-standing favourite (we have been drinking and enjoying the 2011 of late), Capbern is also an estate well on its way to ascending into a different league of winemaking, first under Laurent Dufau and, since 2020, under Vincent Millet.
Dufau and Millet are credited with the rapid progress made at Calon-Ségur, under the same ownership as Capbern since 2012. Calon is challenging Montrose and Cos d'Estournel as the leading wines of Saint-Estèphe and each new vintage of Capbern shows some of this ambition too. The 33 hectares of vines are hand-harvested and the wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, aged for 18 months in 60% new oak barrels.
| RED | 2021 | 5 cases | Château Capbern | 75cl | £202 per case of 12 | Château Capbern 2021 / 5 cases / 75cl £202 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Focused and direct. Long and linear but juicy as well with fine-grained tannins and a minerally tone that persists. Freshness and balance on the finish. GV? 12.8%. Drink 2027 – 2040. 17 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"Offering up aromas of dark berries, plums, spices, rose petals and loamy soil, the 2021 Capbern is a medium to full-bodied, lively and charming wine with beautifully refined tannins and an impressively penetrating finish. It's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot that attained 12.8% alcohol. 89-91 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"The 2021 Capbern was cropped at 36hL/ha with a 20-day cuvaison, and matured in 60% new oak for a planned 18 months. It has an attractive, fragrant bouquet of vivacious black and blue fruit, a lovely pencil box element emanating from the Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, respectable weight and acidity and a saline finish. Not the most complex Saint-Estèphe you will find, but commendable for the vintage and thoroughly enjoyable. (12.8% alcohol) 90-92 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"The 2021 Capbern is absolutely gorgeous. The aromatics alone are so alluring. A whole range of Cabernet inflections leads into a core of bright red toned fruit. Dried herbs, mint, tobacco, cedar, crushed flowers and red berry fruit grace this exquisite, vibrant Saint-Estèphe. Bright acids perk up the finish. En primeur samples were taken from new barrels only, but the final wine is projected to have 60% new oak. 90-92 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"A medium-bodied, firm and very fresh red with crunchy black-fruit and bark character. Tight, fine tannins. Mineral and tea-like quality. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot and 2% petit verdot. 91-92 points" jamessuckling.com------"The 2021 Château Capbern is rock-solid, with wonderful cassis and an assortment of both red and blue fruits, supported by plenty of floral nuances. It's elegant and has considerable finesse, ripe tannins, and terrific purity. It shows the more charming, mid-weight style of the vintage, yet it's a solid wine that will deliver the goods. 91-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com |
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