Made from 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, planted in pure limestone soils, the 2021 Château Alcée offers a terrific perfume of cherries and black raspberries as well as chalky minerality and white flower notes. Medium-bodied and lively on the palate, it has moderate yet present tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and the fresher, pure, seamless style of the vintage.
Jeb Dunnuck (June 2022)Score: 88-90/102
Some pretty spice notes here, with licorice, clove and blue and black berries. Medium-bodied with a creamy and plush tannin texture. Supple finish. Sea salt at the end. 91% merlot and 9% cabernet franc.
James Suckling (May 2022)Score: 91-92/100
The 2021 Alcée includes a new 4-hectare parcel en fermage in St-Genès-de-Castillon (clay over limestone), making 12.22 hectares in total. Cropped at 23.7hL/ha October 6–19, this has an open, expressive bouquet of dark cherries, bergamot and light sous-bois aromas, hints of pencil shavings emerging with aeration. The palate has a lovely juicy opening, fine acidity, rounded, supple red fruit and a harmonious, refined finish. This is a seductive Alcée in the making.
Neal Martin, Vinous (May 2022)Score: 90-92/100Drink 2027-2042
Creamy, sweet, fresh dark cherries, licorice and chocolate come along with a nice touch minerality that adds a cool salty touch to all the ripe, red fruits on the palate and in the finish. The wine blends 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc.
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (May 2022)Score: 89-91/100Drink 2023-2033
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Alcee delivers notes of red and black plums, boysenberries, and dried roses with a waft of Ceylon tea. Medium-bodied, the palate is refreshing and pure with a lifted finish.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent (May 2022)Score: 85-87/100Drink 2024-2031
Fragrant red berry fruit, pink flowers and raspberries on the nose. Juicy and lively, delicately framed with a light but expansive flavour in the mouth - feels well worked, open and approachable. I love the minerality on this - the soft saline edge to the fruit and touch of pencil lead to the tannins that then lingers on the tongue. On the right side of austere, this has a long length with refinement and grace at the end. An Alcée with lots of promise.
Georgie Hindle, Decanter (April 2022)Score: 90/100Drink 2024-2030
The 2021 Alcée derives from vines growing in red clay over limestone opposite La Prade, as well as holdings in Saint-Philippe d’Aiguille. Exhibiting aromas of juicy cherries, berries, tobacco and sweet soil tones, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and impressively concentrated, with tangy acids and youthfully chewy tannins. This is a strong effort from Nicolas Thienpont and his team.
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (April 2022)Score: 88-90+/100
Bordeaux / France
En Primeur
2023-2042