The 2021 Clos de l'Oratoire is terrific. It offers a striking mix of dark blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, lavender, spice, menthol and crushed rocks. Dynamic and vibrant in the glass, impresses for its finely cut, somewhat nervous personality. The 2021 represents a pretty big stylistic shift. Some of that is the vintage and some is an evolution in style. The combined effects of those two factors make for a compelling Clos de L'Oratoire.

Exhibiting notions of cherries, blackberries and licorice, the 2021 Clos de l'Oratoire is medium to full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with a textural attack, bright acids and a fleshy core of fruit, framed by fine tannins that gently assert themselves on the finish. It's one of the more gourmand, generous wines in the von Neipperg range.