Château Les Charmes-Godard - Francs Côtes de Bordeaux blanc 2021

Decanter

About wine:

Fresh and lively, clean and crisp, it offers a good balance between succulent and juicy, almost sorbet-like, with creaminess and suppleness. Good persistence and intensity, no drop in the mid-palate and a joyful finish. 2022-2030

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Acquired in 1988, Charmes-Godard is a little-known 4.44-hectare vineyard that produces a white wine crafted like a cru classé, with a predominance of Sémillon. A very attractive wine, undoubtedly one of the most flavorful in the area, the 2021 vintage offers a pleasant mouthfeel, a broad, refined structure, and notes of crisp white fruit, white flowers, and citrus. A very pleasant white wine, fermented in 500-liter barrels and aged on lees for six months, to be reserved for the table. 2023-2030

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Nicolas and Cyrille Thienpont, father and son, sail together at the helm of three estates: Alcée (Castillon) and La Prade (Francs), led by the flagship Les Charmes Godart, whose terroir, currently converting to organic farming, is home to some of the finest Sémillon and Sauvignon grapes on the limestone and molasses plateau of the Fronsadais region in the Côtes de Francs. This estate offers three châteaux with a strong identity and excellent value for money.
The wines: the crystalline charm of the Sémillons, harvested in successive passes, has not aged a bit since last year. The 2018 still stands out from the rest of the Francs with its undulating, vibrant charm and complex fruit. In 2019, even though the fruit is even deeper, the salinity remains dominant. In red, the 2017, concentrated, frank, and powerful, is beginning to mellow its muscular tannins. With its courteous profile and elegant stature, Château La Prade stands out with its velvety tannins and spicy notes on a long finish. Château Alcée, the Castillon de garde of the Thienpont's trio of gourmet wines, combines richness and grace. It will take a little time to refine its Merlots, born of deep clay soils.

Vinous

About wine:

Les Charmes-Godard 2021 is made from 65% Sémillon aged in 500-liter barrels with 6 months on lees, harvested between September 14 and 24. Naturally, the Sémillon is in full command on the nose, with notes of yellow plum, lemongrass, and a slight scent of resin and aloline. The palate is well-balanced with a lively, fairly taut and concentrated attack, with the Sémillon now taking precedence over the rest, but this will fade with bottle aging. In fact, I would keep it for 5 or 6 years as it will develop many secondary aromas, although I bet most of the 1,300 cases will be consumed prematurely! 2028-2040

James Suckling

About wine:

A vibrant, fresh white wine with crisp, zesty notes of lemon, green apple, pineapple, and flint. Medium-bodied. Very fresh and approachable.

Le Figaro vins

Yves Beck

About wine:

Fruity and floral, this wine is inviting and fresh. Full of character and tension. A salty, juicy, thirst-quenching, and persistent Charmes-Godard.

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is fresh, racy, and offers a delicate crispness. It reveals notes of crisp white peach, zest, and a hint of star fruit, combined with subtle touches of yuzu, discreet hints of fresh lychee, and a subtle, almost fresh rose note. The palate is fruity and offers acidity, richness, juiciness, nice definition, and a tangy structure. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy lemon, star fruit and, more subtly, crisp flat peach, combined with hints of zest, a subtle hint of lemon caviar, discreet hints of almost iodine-like minerality and a subtle hint of sap. Good length. Delicious, fine texture, savory and nicely defined. A lovely wine for fine dining. Fine savory notes/almost a subtle pearly quality on the finish/persistence.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

Flowers, yellow citrus fruits, honeysuckle, green apples, pears, and hints of pink grapefruit are omnipresent on the nose and in the creamy, sweet, bright, vibrant, and yellow citrus-filled palate. Drink between 2023 and 2030.