Weine

Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2022 Château La Clotte is another serious wine in the lineup. Mulled black cherries, liquid violets, spicy wood, and smoky, chocolaty nuances are just some of this wine’s nuances, and it's medium full-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It's one hell of a gorgeous Saint-Emilion that deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for two decades."

Jeb Dunnuck: "As to the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is pure perfection, and it's as seamless, pure, and layered as they come, while still bringing incredible intensity and richness. Smoky red and black currants, leafy tobacco, scorched earth, as well as a hint of violets, all define this incredible wine, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, velvety sweet tannins, moderate acidity, and a gorgeous finish. I love this sexy, opulent, straight-up heavenly wine today, yet it can be drunk with incredible pleasure any time over the coming 50+ years. Reminding me of the 2009 and an undeniable candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2022 hit a solid 14% alcohol with a lofty pH of 3.95."

The Wine Advocate: "The 2022 Lafleur has turned out even better in bottle than I anticipated. Wafting from the glass with exotic aromas of mulberries, potpourri, iris, blood orange and incense, it's full-bodied, dense and layered, with a deep and multidimensional core of sweet, succulent fruit underpinned by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, expansive, rose-inflected finish. Élevage has brought a sense of harmony and classicism to the volume and richness that were already apparent en primeur, delivering a Lafleur for the ages."

Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2022 Château La Gaffelière comes from a mix of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc that's from 22 hectares of classic Saint-Emilion limestone soils. The élevage spanned 19 months in just 50% new French oak. Its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by a stunning nose of ripe red and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy wood, and crushed stone-like minerality. With flawless balance, a pure, full-bodied, seamless mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it's the finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted and will most likely warrant a perfect rating in a decade. This is pure Saint-Emilion brilliance! Give bottles 4-6 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20-30 years."

The Wine Advocate: "The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the finest wine bottled to date at this estate under Patrice Pichet's ownership and Guillaume Pouthier's direction. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of violet, iris, dark wild berries, pencil lead and mulberries, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated with a deep core of fruit beautifully framed by velvety, precise tannins, segueing into a long, saline and perfumed finish. Suave and harmonious, it was crafted with 70% whole bunches and matured in 70% new oak. This unconventional blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot represents a turning point for the estate, cementing its rapid ascendancy in the Bordeaux firmament."

The Wine Advocate: "The 2022 Léoville Las Cases is just as remarkable in bottle as it was from barrel. Wafting from the glass with aromas of beautifully pure cassis fruit mingled with notions of violets, burning embers and subtle cigar box, it has already almost entirely integrated its new oak. Full-bodied, dense and layered, it's deep and resonant, with striking concentration, precision and harmony, concluding with a long, palate-staining finish. This striking Saint-Julien really is one of the wines of the vintage, and the best young Léoville Las Cases I've ever tasted."

Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2022 Château Le Bon Pasteur is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, offering a round, supple, and beautifully textured profile with red and black fruits, chocolate, tobacco, and hints of minerality. Medium to full-bodied, it has velvety tannins, terrific mid-palate depth, and a pure, layered style. Vinified in stainless steel and aged for 15 months in 70% new French oak, this voluptuous yet balanced Pomerol will evolve well for 20+ years. Total production: 1,500 cases."

James Suckling: "Wonderful aromas of crushed violets and wisteria as well as black-truffle undertones and blueberries. Medium- to full-bodied, this has a beautiful center palate and an endless finish. It’s so polished and refined with breathtaking length that caresses every inch of the finish. A masterpiece for the vintage. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. Try after 2030 and beyond."

Jeb Dunnuck: "Cassis, graphite, smoky tobacco, violets, and a wonderful sense of minerality all emerge from the 2022 Château Léoville Barton, a riveting Saint-Julien that shows the style of this estate while bringing the richness and depth of the vintage. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it has enough tannins to warrant a decade of cellaring and will have 30+ years of prime drinking. I’d put this up with the finest Léoville Barton I’ve tasted, as well as with the truly greats of the vintage."

James Suckling: "I am amazed by the freshness and blue fruits here in such a hot year. So much crunchy forest-fruit character like strawberries and raspberries with fantastic peaches and orange peel. Black olives and cloves. Full-bodied yet framed and formed with extremely silky tannins and great beauty. Superbalanced and incredible for the vintage. The ethereal quality of this wine is truly wonderful. Best after 2029."

James Suckling: "Beautiful aromas of brambleberries, light chocolate, bark and nutmeg. Medium-bodied with fresh tannins and hints of terra-cotta and subtle coffee and chocolate undertones. So delicious and intense. Crushed stones add to the mineral, salty and ripe-fruit character that stays fresh. 57% merlot and 43% bouchet (cabernet franc). Drinkable but better in three or four years."

Jane Anson: "Vitality, freshness, grip and length, this is an unusual interpretation of the vintage, reflecting not only the limestone soils on this spot located in the Fronsac area (although not bottled under the AOC), but also the deft viticulture and winemaking that you find from the Guineaudeau family, and the high percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend. The colour is still hitting the inky depths that you find everywhere in this year, but a blue fruit and steel character greets you on the opening, and the tannins are finely boned, leading to a saline signoff. Continues to prove that Les Perrières is one of the most interesting new ventures in the region. 33% new oak."

James Suckling: "A curious wine that offers lots of fruit character on the nose, beginning with blackberries and flowers that move to integrated tannins, proceeding to a firmness and a well-framed palate. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc. This needs four or five years but is lovely already."

The Wine Cellar Insider: "Truffle, flowers, dark chocolate, black cherries, licorice, and chocolate-drenched plums create a rich aromatic profile. The wine is deep, concentrated, lush, and abundant. Opulent, plummy, and sapid, it requires a few years in the bottle to fill out, soften, and develop its velvety characteristics. The wine blends 82% Merlot, 17.5% Cabernet Franc, and .05% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2029 to 2055."

Weinwisser: "100 % Merlot, 14.4 Vol.-%, pH 3.77, 29 hl/ha. Was für eine unglaubliche Intensität dieser Le Pin hat: frisch gepflückte Walderdbeere, Himbeermark, Schattenmorellensaft, betörender Irisduft, getrockneter Rosmarin und Oregano – wie eine Mille-feuille. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, kakaoartigem Tanningerüst, tänzerischer Rasse, mineralischem Kern sowie einem perfekt modellierten Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale explodiert der Pomerol und endet mit einem Korb von Herzkirschen, edler Cassiswürze und royaler feinkörniger Adstringenz. Gehört neben Trotanoy zu den besten Weinen aus der Appellation. Auf meine spitzbübische Frage, ob das hier der beste Le Pin sei, antwortet Jacques lächelnd: "Nein, ich bin nie zufrieden und möchte mich jedes Mal verbessern!" "

James Suckling: "Minerality is the word here. Crunchy and al dente, this has firm, juicy blue fruit and tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Everything in its place. 55.5% cabernet sauvignon, 38.5% merlot and 6% cabernet franc. Give it two more years to let the complexity unwind, and it will become even longer in two to three years. Drink from 2028."

Decanter: "Hay, straw, lemon, green apple, and elderflower with a waxy, floral nuance. Incredibly zingy and electric on the palate, bursting with freshness and crystalline purity. Mouthwatering acidity, a touch of bitterness, and exhilarating intensity create a thrilling experience. Crisp green apple, pear, pineapple, and tropical fruit remain sharp, clean, and focused. The texture is flawless, keeping your attention from start to finish. So much verve, character, and precision - it’s simply captivating. A truly fabulous white with endless energy."

Weinwisser: "96 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc. Ungeheuer tiefgründiges, dicht verwobenes Bouquet, zarter Anflug von Wildkirsche, Graphit, Olivenpaste, Brasiltabak und rotem Johannisbeernektar. Am sehr komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, kakaoartigem Tanningerüst, balancierter Rasse und muskulösem Körper. Im konzentrierten Finale eine Explosion schwarzbeeriger Konturen, dunkler Mineralik und königlicher Adstringenz. Ein Monument eines Weines, hier zücke ich ganz klar die Höchstnote."

Decanter: "Deep and evocative, this bursts with blackcurrants, milk chocolate and floral perfume. Instantly captivating, the palate is silky yet structured, with tannins seamlessly supporting vibrant red and black berries. Broad and powerful, yet it glides, showcasing Cabernet’s structure, Merlot’s generosity and cool spiced fruit. A mineral core adds complexity, with flint-like nuances. A masterclass in power and balance – and unmistakably Smith. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Organic."

The Wine Advocate: "The 2022 Troplong Mondot has turned out brilliantly in bottle. Wafting from the glass with aromas of mulberries and blackberries mingled with notions of licorice, rose petals, incense and pencil shavings, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with huge mid-palate volume, superb integration and an ineffable sense of completeness. This site always delivers power, but I've never tasted a Troplong that's simultaneously quite so powerful or quite so harmonious and suave. Concluding with a broad, violet-inflected finish, the 2022 represents the essence of this remarkable site."