93pts James Suckling
This is a polished and fragrant red with cloves, olives and dried flowers on the nose. Spiced cherries and sandalwood, too. It’s medium-bodied and layered, with firm yet very fine tannins that melt into the wine. 74% merlot and 26% cabernet franc. 30% in amphora and the rest in new and first-year used oak barrels. Delicious already, but best from 2025.
92pts Vinous
The 2021 La Confession is bold, racy and explosive. Inky blue/purplish dark fruit, lavender, spice and chocolate are all dialed up. Bright acids come through nicely on the finish, lending considerable energy to balance all of that opulence.
91pts Jane Anson
The team here has got the balance right between smoked oak that enhances but doesn't attempt to hide the fresh acidities in the succulent summery fruits. This is enjoyable and well handled, easy to recommend for medium term drinking.
Decanter
Slight meatiness to the nose, concentrated and intense. Grippy but super fine tannins coat the mouth delivering liquorice edges blackcurrant and black cherries. This has a dark tone to it, that sweet almost sticky liquorice but with cooling mint elements too. Just feels a slight bit high-toned and sharp but overall easy to drink with freshness and presence.
Wine Advocate
The 2021 La Confession offers up aromas of dark berries, mocha and toasty new oak, followed by a medium-full, supple and polished palate. It's a solid effort in the oakier, more extracted style that prevailed here until the 2022 vintage.
History
2001 was the debut vintage for Chateau La Confession in St. Emilion and it’s new, young owner, Bordeaux wine maker, Jean-Philippe Janoueix. It only took a few years until Chateau La Confession started showing what it was capable of. 2005 was the first vintage expressing the quality of wine Chateau La Confession.