Uncorking Vintage 2022 - Bordeaux Right Bank
This is a companion to Uncorking Vintage 2022-Bordeaux Left Bank And Entre-Deux-Mers.
The 2022 wine vintage from Bordeaux in southwestern France is renowned for exceptional balance and quality. For the first time in almost a decade, I was outside of France for months during the spring of 2023 when these wines were initially tasted. Now that wines from this vintage have been initially aged and bottled, I recently tasted more than 90 wines from multiple appellations to provide this broad overview.
Growing conditions in 2022 were typical for Bordeaux with regards to unpredictability. A cool April was followed by dry days after July, conducive to local wildfires. Yields were average or diminished with relatively, small concentrated berries.
Vintage Bordeaux 2022 red wines are generally of a consistently elevated quality, with soft, elegant tannins (not as spectacularly creamy as some from the 2023 vintage), bright acidity (not as prominent as the majority of wines from the 2021 vintage), with shining fruit (although only a small percentage having the deep dark flavors of the 2018 vintage; and few with the brightness and energy from the sun drenched 2015 vintage). The tannin/acidity combination provides aging potential that may comparable to Bordeaux wines from vintages 2016, 2019 and 2020.
Many wines from this vintage can be enjoyed now and will also still shine with quality and bright acidity decades into the future.
For the sake of brevity, some tasting notes are referenced to my VinoVoices website .
Bordeaux Right BankSaint-Émilion AOCMagnan La Gaffelière. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2022. 96 points.
A 65/35 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc aged 14 months in amphorae as well as in new barrels and concrete vats. Rich aromas of roasted chestnuts, black cherries, sage, red plums and some hibiscus. Delicate and lovely mid palate—balanced, elegant, with soft and creamy tannins and acidity as fresh as a windswept shoreline. Flavors include macrons, chunky brownies, red cherries and Christmas cake with vanilla, licorice, allspice. Festive and addictive. Pair with lamb with mint sauce or even angel food cake with chocolate frosting.
Chateau Montlabert. Saint-Émilion Gran Cru Classé. 2022. 97 points.
Château Petit-Val. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2022. 94-95 points.
A Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot blend that aged for 18 months in oak. From Jean-Louis and Olivia Alloin, farmers from central France who successfully forayed into the Bordeaux wine world with prowess at rapidly learning how to produce quality wines. Crisp, rich, brittle, scintillating, crackling first aromas that include maple syrup, candy cane, raspberries, dorp Dutch licorice. A full and easy Grand Cru mouthful that is rich, balanced, layered, complex, easy to drink and with a range of flavors—including red cherries and peppermint on the finish. Well integrated tannins, buoyant acidity. Classic and approachable now.
Château La Dominique. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. 2022. 97 points.
15% alcohol in this Merlot dominant wine which also includes Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ethereal aromas—more cloud than scent. Red and black cherries and mint crisp, figs, prunes, black pepper and even a hint of cumin. On the nose this is a steaming blackberry tart fresh from the oven. Beautiful classic Grand Cru in the mouth, with soft tannins, fluffy fruit flavors, neat and subtle acidity and flavors that include fudge, butterscotch, mint, raspberries and molasses as well as some black pepper. Complex, elegant, seductive. Pair with a pepper steak or a poke bowl with ginger and cilantro. Engaging and classic.
For the following wines, see the tasting notes at my VinoVoices website .
La Croix de Montlabert. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2022.
Relais de La Dominique. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2022.
Muse du Val. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2022.
Pomerol and Lalande de PomerolChâteau Fayat. Pomerol. 2022. 94 points.
14.5% alcohol in this Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend. From a vineyard that is surprisingly located within the city of Libourne, and yet also within the Pomerol appellation and named after the family of producers who also own Château La Dominique in Saint-Émilion. Rich royal flush of aromas of mocha, dark berries, red and black cherries and spring florals. Firm tannins in this wholesome, full-bodied wine with flavors that include strudel, cherry tart and even some mint lozenge on the finish. Pair with roast duck and applesauce or cous-cous with mango chutney.
Clos Bel Air. Pomerol. 2022. 93+ points.
Merlot dominant, with less than 10% of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, and only 12.5% in alcohol. Flinty, gravely and slight petrol initial nose followed by aromas of dark plums, fruit cake, orange rind, cranberry and fern glen. Initial attack is brisk with sharp acidity, followed by a mid-palate of dark strudel and meatloaf flavors. Elegant finish in a complex dense wine that can be paired with pumpkin muffins or butternut squash and rosemary risotto.
Le Lion de La Fleur de Boúard. Lalande de Pomerol. 2022. 95 points.
A Merlot dominant wine that includes Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that aged 16 months in French oak. Dark, dense, syrupy rich aromas of red and black licorice, molasses, violets and red cherries. A complex and energetic stream of scents. Also includes a coherent, rich, rounded and agreeable set of fruit flavors with citric acidity, flavors of brownies and devil's cake—fluffy light in the mouth with a keenly persistent length and a finish that endures. Elegant tannins. Pair with wild game or with Asian fare that includes both ginger and soy.
Blaye Côtes de BordeauxChâteau Monconseil Gazin. Blanc Prestige. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2023. 93 points.
80/20 Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon blend fermented in oak barrels. Rounded, redolent, fruity aromas that include honeydew melon, guavas, white pears and green apples. Rounded, rich mouthful with honey mid palate and a silky finish. Pair with salted nuts to provide contrast.
Château Côte Montpezat. Cuvée Compostelle. Bordeaux Blanc. 2022. 90 points.
60/20/20 Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Gris/Sémillon blend aged 30% in French oak and 70% in stainless steel for seven months. Fluffy, rounded and generous aromas of lilacs, green apples and marshmallows. Crisp acidity on a slightly tart mid palate with flavors of honeydew melon, pineapple and apples. Pair with vanilla ice cream to provide contrast between acidity and creaminess.
Château La Carelle. Sur les sables frais. Blanc Agrume. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2023. 91+ points.
80/20 Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon blend aged five months in stainless steel. Crisp aromas of pine, pineapple and lime. Mouthful is contrasting—both rounded and sharp, brittle and soft. This dances across the tongue. Flavors include green apples and applesauce, as well as gooseberries and lemon soda. Pair with a creamy risotto to gain contrast between the wine's acidity and creaminess.
Château Mondésir-Gazin. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. White. 2021. 90 points.
45/55 Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon blend aged nine months in partially new French oak, A honey and pine assembly of aromas that also includes bruised pears, apple strudel and caramel. Slightly tart but also creamy in the mouth, creating an attractive differential. Long finish is silky and tingling. Pair with ice cream lathered with butterscotch sauce.
Château Pardaillan. Merlot Nord. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91+ points.
100% Merlot aged 12 months in French oak. 14% alcohol from a wine estate that began producing in 1802—two years before Lewis and Clark set off on their trans-America exploration journey, launched by President Thomas Jefferson who visited Bordeaux and raved about its wines. Holy Smoke aromas of cherries and molasses and pine nuts, followed by flavors redolent of rounded red cherries from the Merlot. Easy drinking, fresh and with a sliver of complexity on the finish and a mid palate that includes red plums, tabouli and menthol. Delightful. Not as complex as a Saint-Émilion cru, but with commensurate fresh lightness. Pair with an array of cheeses that include compté, Saint-nectaire and tomme.
Château Le Chêne de Margot. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 94 – 95 points.
From Lauren Dubois, this 75/20/5 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blend aged one year in tanks and kicks out a bucketful of red and black and orange fruit aromas—think raspberries—as well as balsamic and sage. Coherent, consolidated flavors in a focused package. Brimming with generous fruit flavors that include black and red cherries and blood oranges, as well as cranberries. Slightly complex, dripping with saturated flavors, linear tannins and clean enveloping acidity. Pair with comté or cheddar cheese, raspberry pie dessert, grilled lamb or a tabouli salad with soy sauce.
Château De La Chapelle. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91 - 92 points
A 14% alcohol and 85/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon from 25-year-old vines from Luc Schweitzer and sons Ludovic and Richard. Aged in stainless steel. Boisterous but focused aromas that include red cherries, dark chocolate, meatloaf and menthol. Linear attack, fresh raspberries mid palate and a voluptuous and sexy caramel apple strudel finish that just keeps on giving and transforms the dimensional attack into a more memorable complex set of flavors. Nice one, Monsieur Schweitzer. Pair with barbecued meats, grilled shiitake or cep mushrooms or Mediterranean mezze.
Château Les Donats. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 100% Merlot. 2022. 94-95 points.
The label says 'le Vin des Amis,' or the wine of friends, and shows seven birds sharing a branch. 13.5% alcohol in this wine from 30-year-old vines with aromas of a forest trail, cherry tart, eucalyptus. A delight to drink. Fresh, bubbling fruit flavors that include black and red cherries, as well as pomegranate, milk chocolate and raspberries with slight black pepper on the finish. Compact flavors, excellent balance between fruit, fresh acidity and silky tannins. Pair with strong cheeses, poultry or stuffed eggplant.
Château La Bretonniere. Grand Vin. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92+ points.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Stéphane Heurlier. Dark aromas of porcini mushrooms, red plums, a pine grove and lusciously fresh red cherries. Well balanced mouthful that combines crisp acidity, beautiful red fruit and flavors of caramel chunks and some sage and cumin and dark licorice on the finish. Firm tannins. Pair with a meat stew that includes sliced carrots, celery and cilantro, or with a roma pizza. Chapeau, or congratulations, Monsieur Heurlier!
Château Monconseil Gazin. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92-93 points.
70/20/10 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec from 25-year-old vines from the Baudet family, which has produced wines since 1894. Aromas of persimmons, black cherries, raspberries, coriander and a slab of cooking chocolate as well as baking spices—nutmeg and cloves. A delightfully juicy and easy drinking wine with generous and rounded acidity as well as flavors of German chocolate cake, toffee, red cherries and apple strudel on the finish. Low key but well integrated tannins. Pair with four cheese lasagna or an orange sorbet dessert.
Château de Cor Bugeaud. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 93-94 points.
A 70/30 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend aged in cement and steel tanks for a year. 13% alcohol. A bright broth and froth of persnickety flavors that jump out from the glass, and a bottle labels that contrasts to the traditional images of a château. Aromas of minestrone and mocha and melted hot chocolate; red cherries and salt water taffy and toffee. A rounded mouthful of suave tannins embracing red fruits and chocolate with menthol and anise on the finish; complex and elegant. This could be taken for a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru during a blind tasting.
Château Cap Saint-Martin. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92+ points.
From Béatrice and Pierre Ardoin, this 100% Merlot is made just over a mile away from the town of Blaye. 14% alcohol. Aged in older oak barrels as well as in stainless steel and concrete tanks. Aromas dripping with red cherries and a touch or orange peel, balsamic and graphite. A fresh and chirpy monofilament of delightful Merlot—well balanced with suave tannins and sizzling but not boisterous acidity. Pair with melon and ham or grilled sirloin steak.
Château au La Petite Roque. Mémoire. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 94+ points.
A 70/30 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend that is 13% alcohol from sixth generation winemakers. Strong aromas that include figs, black licorice, raspberries, red cherries, slight tar and menthol. Complex and enticing. A beautifully delicious and well-integrated red wine that is bristling with red fruits and dark licorice and spices and waiting to be paired with steak with peppercorn sauce, or tabouli with soy and green peppers.
Château Des Tourtes. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. Cuvee Prestige. 2021. 92+ points.
100% Sauvignon Blanc aged nine months in barrels from Vignobles Raguenot, 'artists of wine.' Crisp aromas of lime, gooseberries, kiwi fruit, mandarins and grapefruit. Slick and slippery oily mouth feel with flavors of honey, white pears, peaches and melon. Match with a slab of albacore tuna and sliced yellow peppers. The maker recommends pairing with foie gras and fried scallops.
Château Ricaud. Quartet. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 89.5 Points.
A blend of fourths of Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Malbec/Merlot that aged for 18 months in French oak. 13.5% alcohol. Aromas of sawdust, sultanas and black cherries with a hit of peach. Easy drinking though somewhat tart acidity on the finish. Mid palate churns with red and black fruits and a rounded tannic profile. Pair with slices of salty gammon ham.
Vignobles Carreau. Amiral. AOC Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux 2022. 93 – 94 points.
L'Esprit de Bel-Air-La-Royere. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 94 points.
90/10 Merlot/Malbec blend with 14% alcohol. Aged in non-new French oak as well as amphorae. Robust and generous aromas pumping out of this juice—toffee, black berries, black cherries, nougat, soy and gorse. Complex and well balanced, yet also a light and precise wine with mid palate flavors that include red cherries and vanilla with a unique butterscotch finish. Delicate tannins will tingle your tongue, and acidity bathes the assembly with lip licking energy. Pair with bulgur and with either comte or cheddar cheese, or with a teriyaki sauteed shish kebab. Nice one Corinne!
Château Bourdieu. Absolu. AOC Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92-93 points.
Château L'Escadre. Grand Réserve. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 93+ points.
70/20/10 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blend from 25+ year old vines aged for a year or more in French oak. Bright and light as a spring morning aromas—crisp and delicate—including roses, orange grove, peppermint and red licorice. A balanced mouthful billowing with rich flavors that include red fruits, anise, mint, bay leaves and black pepper. A full, rich, chewy mouthful of complex tastes. Pair with cous-cous and mandarin slices or with a hot gooey brownie.
Château des Matards. Blanc Tradition. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2023. 89-90 points.
90/10 blend of Sauvignon Blanc/Muscadelle. Zinging semi acrid aromas of limes and gooseberries and white plums here. Rich, rounded, well integrated flavors—almost syrupy with honey-tinged richness. Flavors include white pears, kiwi fruit.
Famille Hubert. Château Peybonhommne-les-Tours. Le Blanc Bonhomme. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2023. 93-94 points.
45/45/10 blend of Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon/Colombard. Perfume of florals—jasmine, honeysuckle, as well as iced grapefruit chunks, limes and honey. Complex and compelling. A delightfully light and rich balanced medley of subtle flavors from this biodynamic wizard producer. Flavors include guava, barley, oatmeal cookies and honeydew melon. What a blaze! Let's share the entire bottle, please. Pair with vegetables and cous-cous or with light cod with butter and roasted parsnips. Producer recommends pairing with ravioli with foie gras or marinated fish.
Oz de Cailleteau. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91 points.
50/50 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon from 50-year-old vines from this large right bank Bordeaux appellation. Aged 16 months in oak. Classic Bordeaux profile here that could be right or left bank because of the constituent percentages of grapes—rounded from the Merlot and taut with tannins from the Cabernet. Smoky aromas include juicy red cherries and a slice of blackberry tart. Balanced on the nose and including a full mid palate, though tannins are still young and needing more age. Rich acidity. Pair with pepperoni pizza or noodles with teriyaki sauce.
For the following wines—see the tasting notes at my VinoVoices website .
Famille Hubert Vignerons. Quintessence de Pey-Bonhomme. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château Bourdieu. No. 1. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château Bourdieu. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château La Bretonniére. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2023.
Château Luc de Beaumont. Grand Vin de Bordeaux. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château Grand Mazerolles. Grand Vin de Bordeaux. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux.
Chateau Les Bertrands. Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château Cone-Taillasson Sabourin. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château Les Clottiers. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château Romfort. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château Sainte Clotilde. Sir Malbec. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Chateau Barbé. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château La Bretonniere. Excellence. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château Eyquem. Le Point de mire. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022.
Château Saint Clotilde. Tandem. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Château La Bretonniere. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022.
Côtes de BourgChâteau Romfort. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 91+ points.
An 85/15 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from 25 year old vines. 13.5% alcohol. Chunky aromas of black berry, blue berry, fudge and cooking chocolate. A soft, rounded mouthful of billowing red fruits that includes red plums a well as mint brittle and sultanas. Creamy tannins and classic balance and poise from vintage 2022. Pair with meat lasagna or even a dessert of apple strudel.
Château Martinat. 100% Malbec. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 92-93 points.
Château Tour de Guiet. Excellence. Merlot. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 91+ points.
From Stéphane Heurlier, who tends his vines according to phases of the moon. Aged in French oak for 16 months. Soft aromas of red fruits, and flavors of mocha, red cherries and slight menthol on the finish. Rounded tannins, easy drinking. Pair with beef and mushrooms.
Château Haut-Macô. Cuvée Jean Bernard. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 92-93.
A 13.5% alcohol blend from the commune of Tauriac. Plump plums and a cherry bitter delight in the mouth. This wine is fruity with energetic acidity and low key tannins. Like drinking an Italian cherry breakfast tart. Slight acidic kick on the finish. Pair with a shish kebab where the meat, fruit and vegetable combination will both contrast to and complement this wine's acidity. Delicious.
Château de Thau. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 93 points.
An 70/30 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from the hills of Bourg and aged in oak for one year. Low key notes of a dusty trail with some sage, rosemary and fresh young raspberries. An unusually silky wine with brisk acidity, latent and soft but layered tannins, rambunctious fruit and dark licorice with a long finish of raspberry tart flavors. Pair this with lightly cooked red meat or goat cheese.
Château Brulesécaille. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2020. 95 points.
A 60/30/10 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc from 35-year-old vines that aged one year in barrels of which a third were new oak. A nutty set of aromas, but also chirping with cherries, anise, smoky bacon crisps and a juicy blackberry pie fresh from the oven. A deliciously compact and balanced wine with firm tannins and oozing with berry flavors—including blueberries—as well as coconut and raspberry jam mid palate with a long black cherry finish. Gorgeous! Pair with peppery spicy meat balls or a creamy vegetarian four cheese lasagna with some Asian spices.
Château Martinat. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 94 points.
An 80/20 Merlot/Malbec blend from Lansac commune in the beautifully hilly Côtes de Bourg appellation from 35-year-old vines. Aged 14 months in French oak. Statured, classic, proud aromas of a big wine from Bourg. Aromas include figs, tar, black licorice, raspberry patch and cherry parfait. An emissary for the quality of some Bourg wines with a chewy meaty and Malbec spicy mid palate (Malbec is the signature grape of this appellation) with a confident blend of firm but succulent tannins, dripping fresh fruit and quiet but binding acidity. Pair with a wiener schnitzel and brussels sprouts, or a dark vegetarian chop suey.
Château Mondésir-Gazin. Chante-Alouette. Vin Nature. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 94+ points.
80/20 Merlot/Malbec blend from Bourg—the 'spicy side of Bordeaux.' Aged nine months in concrete. Amazing aromas of sesame and peanut butter, cherry tart and melted toffee. Complex, rich. A hugely bright and flavorful mouthful, rich with spices, fruits, mocha and salty black Dorp licorice. Fulfilling and filling. Pair with a vegetarian poke bowl with varied flavors and sweet sesame sauce, or with lamb shish kebab with red and green peppers.
Cháteau Brulesécaille. Sauvignon. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 90 points.
A 75/25 blend of Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Gris from 17-year-old vines. A sweet and salty potpourri of aromas, with flint, green grass and limoncello and a streak of salinity. A full and rich white, tingling with acidity but also creamy in texture. Needs a few years to better harmonize into a more unctuous delight. More for dessert than for an aperitif. Pair with foie gras or honey drizzled feta cheese.
For the following wines, see the tasting notes at my VinoVoices website .
Vignobles Bayle-Carreau. Château Landreau. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022.
Château Eyquem. Le Point de mire. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022.
Chateau Tour de Guiet. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022.
Castillon Côtes de BordeauxChâteau Picoron. Le Bon Nobel. AOP Bordeaux. 2022. 93 points.
Like all Picoron wines, the name is a palindrome and can be read backwards or forwards. Also, like all Picoron wines it is made exclusively from Merlot grapes. Only 6,800 bottles produced. Deep purple colored, with deep dark aromas of cassis, woodland trail, maple syrup and boysenberries and a hint of red cherries. A light mouthful with sparky acidity, fresh red and dark fruits and some chocolate/cherry cake on the finish. Firm tannins, well balanced, fresh and fun. Pair with a plate of charcuterie and cheeses or a plum clafoutis dessert. Stellar value from Frank and Glenda from Down Under and their stellar team in Castillon on the right bank.
Château Côte Montpezal. Cuvée Compostelle. AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92 points.
Château Brehat. AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92+ points.
Château Le Rey. La Argileuses. AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 93 - 94 points.
80/20 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc aged in small conical stainless steel tanks for better parcel management. 15% alcohol from fruit grown over blue clay parcels. Royal aromas akin to a Grand Cru Classe from Saint-Émilion, including roasted chestnuts, leather, fern glen, bramble patch and dark caramel. Intriguing assemblage of aromas. Beautifully soft in the mouth with deft but well-structured tannins, dark fruit and dark chocolate. Assembled in a bath of brisk acidity with a lingering red cherry tart finish that will have you reaching to pour seconds for yourself and friends. Pair with lentil and beetroot salad or cheese ravioli with a white sauce.
Château La Bourrée. AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92-93 points.
A 70/30 Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend 30 years old vines from the Meynard family. Aged for six months in barrels and stainless steel. 14 % alcohol. Aromas of vanilla, red cherries, fern glen, strawberry patch in rain-soaked soil, roma tomatoes and red plums. Soft tannins, rounded, billowing fruit in this well integrated package that highlights the merits of vintage 2022—balance, integration, silkiness and harmony. Pair with cheese such as comté or cheddar or even with linguini and marinara sauce.
Château Brisson. AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 94-95 points.
From the Vlade family, this 85/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 12 months in oak. 13.5% alcohol. Luscious and heartening aromas that are textured and evocative—think memory of a dark woodland trail. Creamy assembly of rich, ripe red cherries, black cherries, black berries, malt balls, cinnamon and black pepper with an oily mouth feel and a finish that is lip tingling with mocha and strawberry jam. Firm but elegant tannins. Pair this with a smorgasbord of charcuterie meats, hard cheeses, or with lamb and mint sauce, or with cous-cous, sultanas and soy. This is a gastronomic wine.
Château Beynat. Cuvée Léonard. AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92+ points.
A 60/40 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from 45-year-old vines; biodynamic methods used to produce this wine that aged for 12 months in oak. Almost gooey, swirling aromas—some petrol and anise and roasted chestnuts and bitter cherries. Lovely soft mouthful of well integrated flavors with rounded tannins and light, bright acidity. A delight to swirl before swallowing, and a finish that includes dark caramel and black pepper. Pair with sharp cheeses or a spicy stroganoff to complement this wine's dark complex flavors.
Clos Puy Arnaud. AOC Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92+ points.
70/25/5 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon aged in new oak barrels as well as demi-muid 600-liter barrels as well as clay amphorae before the juice is blended in cement vats. Clouds of soft aromas of red fruit and an evergreen forest. Powerful, structured, classic Bordeaux profile that blends fruits with an enhanced tannic backbone from the oak aging. A sharp bitter cherry attack followed by a soft pillow of beautifully juicy acidic red fruits that include the lightness of raspberries with the succulence of dark plums. Some chocolate and black licorice and soy on the finish. Pair with beef cooked in dark red wine or a salad of roma tomatoes, sliced soft cheeses and sweet basil leaves—Caprese style—but doused with black pepper.
Château Roque Le Mayne. AOC Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 94-95 points.
Derrencourt. Domaine de l'A. AOC Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91+ points.
Château Le Peyrat. AOC Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux. 2022.
