2021 Château Vray Croix de Gay, Pomerol, Bordeaux
Description
Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 20%.
A rather complex history means that this property is less well known than it deserves to be. It’s now under the same ownership as Calon Ségur (the Suravenir insurance group; they bought it from the owners of Latour), and so a new chapter begins. With vineyards near La Fleur-Pétrus, Le Gay and Trotanoy, the potential is evident. With Calon’s excellent Technical Director, Vincent Millet, overseeing matters, the 2021 here has a tense and expressively high-toned bouquet. The palate is assertive and creamy, growing in flavour and depth. This is an impressive effort from a seemingly rarely seen property.
Our score: 17/20
Berry Bros. & Rudd
-
Colour
Red -
Sweetness
Dry -
Vintage
2021 -
Alcohol
13% -
Grape
Merlot,Cabernet Franc -
Body
Full Bodied -
Producer
Château Vray Croix de Gay
Critics reviews
The 2021 Vray Croix de Gay opens with a good burst of energy, but it ultimately lacks both depth and persistence. Angular contours are hard to get past. Those edges are especially evident given the wine's light centre of fruit.
Drink 2023 - 2031
Beautiful florality and sweetness on the nose, I love the fragrance here. This is lively and floral on the palate too with tannins that are smooth but provide a supple grip and structure. It's not the most weighty in the mouth, or layered, but does have well-sculpted fruit and well-balanced acidity. A hit of cinnamon, liquorice and clove comes in on the finish. Gentle, with lots of tantalising aspects which will benefit from ageing.
Drink 2025 - 2049
Fresh currants, red cherries, white pepper and some nice green olives on the nose. Quite juicy and medium-bodied on the palate with fine, silky tannins and a succulent finish. Not a rich Pomerol but it shows excellent balance. From organically grown grapes. Delicious now, but this should hold very well in the next five to six years.
This has a ton of freshness and vivacity, with bright blueberry and raspberry fruits, and supple tannins that are leaning into the vintage, not trying too hard to over-extract but letting the juice through, along with some Pomerol glamour. Good stuff. Jean Claude Berrouet consultant, Vincent Millet director, Penelope Godefroy technical director, organic farming. Tasted twice.
Drink 2026 - 2040
The 2021 Vray Croix de Gay is perfumed on the nose, offering truffle-tinged red fruit and a touch of damp, loamy soil. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity, taut and fresh, leading to a light, slightly attenuated finish, yet it has plenty of freshness and should gain weight in barrel.
Drink 2027 - 2042
Charming and sensual, the 2021 Vray Croix de Gay offers up aromas of plums, sweet berries and peonies, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless palate. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this generous Pomerol will offer a broad drinking window.