The 2021 Ped?sclaux is a strong effort that's turned out well in bottle, offering up aromas of cassis, dark berries, violets and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy palate with powdery tannins, lively acids and a vibrant core of fruit.

Offering up notions of sweet berries, licorice, loamy soil and spices, the 2021 Ped?sclaux is medium-bodied, lively and fine-boned, with a pretty core of fruit, supple tannins and a giving, expressive profile. It's a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. This 52-hectare, heavily morcellated estate encompasses a wide variety of soil types, though gravels make up over two-thirds of the total. Acquired by Jacky Lorenzetti in 2009, the vineyards have been overhauled, with missing vines replaced, organic certification under way and biodynamic trials. In 2011, important restructuring took place, with fully 11 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon planted at high density. From 2014, a gravity-flow winery and chai has been operational, featuring 58 tanks for parcel-by-parcel vinification. Ped?sclaux wasn't a name to regard as important a decade or two ago, but now quality is on the rise.