Weine

James Suckling: "So much violets, licorice, pencil, flowers and currants define this on the nose before it moves to fresh mushrooms. It’s full-bodied yet compacted with tension and a compressed center palate. Incredible, fine-grained tannins and energy. The length is truly great. Should be even more beautiful in 2024. Give it time."

Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion 2016 Dieser außergewöhnliche Bordeaux verzaubert mit einem faszinierenden Bouquet aus Veilchen, schwarzen Johannisbeeren und verführerischem Waldfrüchtekonfit, untermalt von dezenten Noten nach Zedernholz, feuchtem Waldboden und einem Hauch Orangenzesten. Am Gaumen besticht er durch seine beeindruckende Struktur mit samtigen, perfekt integrierten Tanninen und einer vielschichtigen Aromatik von dunklen Beeren, reifen Kirschen und subtilen Gewürznuancen. Die perfekte Balance zwischen Kraft und Eleganz kulminiert in einem außerordentlich langen, intensiven Finale, das von einer präzisen Frische getragen wird. Ein wahrhaft faszinierender Wein mit bemerkenswerter Komplexität und Tiefe.

Chateau Bellevue Mondotte 2009 Dieser außergewöhnliche Wein präsentiert sich in einem tiefgründigen Indigoblau mit violetten Reflexen und entfaltet ein faszinierendes Bouquet aus konzentrierten Heidel- und Brombeeren, kandierten Kirschen und edlen Veilchennoten. Am Gaumen offenbart sich eine opulente Textur, die einem flüssigen Samt gleicht, wobei eine überraschend präsente Säurestruktur die natürliche Süße ausbalanciert und den vielschichtigen blauen und schwarzen Fruchtaromen eine klare Form verleiht. Der vollmundige, kraftvolle Körper beeindruckt durch seine samtige Struktur mit schokoladigen, festen Tanninen sowie einer bemerkenswerten Länge und Intensität im extraktsüßen Nachhall, der von feinen Nuancen aus Lakritze, Kaffee und kandierten Kirschen begleitet wird.

Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion 2014 Dieser außergewöhnliche Wein präsentiert sich mit einer beeindruckenden aromatischen Komplexität, bei der dunkle Früchte, Heidelbeeren und Johannisbeeren durch florale Nuancen von Veilchen und Lavendel ergänzt werden. Am Gaumen offenbart der 2014er eine elegante Struktur mit seidigen, gut eingebundenen Tanninen, die von einer lebendigen Säure getragen werden. Der Wein besticht durch seine bemerkenswerte Balance zwischen Fruchtfülle und würzigen Anklängen von Schokolade und dezenten Rauchnoten. Im langen Abgang entfalten sich Aromen von roten Beeren, Gewürzen und einem Hauch Tabak. Ein femininer Pessac mit verführerischem Charakter, der durch seine Präzision und Finesse glänzt und bereits jetzt Trinkgenuss verspricht.

Jeb Dunnuck: "The finest example of the château I've tasted, the 2022 Château Clerc Milon is deep purple-hued with a sensational perfume of crème de cassis, spring flowers, spicy oak, and graphite. It's full-bodied, concentrated, has a weightless mouthfeel, and beautiful tannins, all making for a riveting Pauillac. It needs a decade of bottle age to hit prime time, but this is another truly special 2022 that readers should pounce on."

The Wine Advocate: "Offering up aromas of sweet cherries, berries, spices and new oak, the 2022 Clos l'Eglise is medium to full-bodied, broad and layered, with a velvety attack that segues into a vibrant, rather structured mid-palate, concluding with youthfully firm tannins. Incorporating fully 30% Cabernet Franc this year, this is a strong effort, albeit a touch on the liberally extracted side for such a concentrated vintage."

Weinwisser: "Ungeheuer tiefgründiges schwarzbeeriges Bouquet, edles Veilchenparfüm, frisch gepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, Schattenmorellensaft, dunkle Schokolade und zarter Irisduft. Am königlichen Gaumen mit superseidigen Tanninen, kaschmirartigem Tanningerüst, ein David- ähnlicher Körper, schwebt mit dieser unglaublichen Rasse förmlich über das Parkett. Im kaskadenartigen Finale tiefgründig und mit magischer Balance, im nicht enden wollenden erhabenen Finale Wildkirsche, Estragon und frisch gemahlener Kakao. Dieser Wein tritt bei den Primeurs in der Regel schüchtern und zurückhaltend auf, das ist dieses Jahr überhaupt nicht der Fall, wie ein Topmodell stolziert er über den Laufsteg und ist sich seiner Schönheit bestens bewusst! „Ein supersexy und super seriöser Cheval Blanc" fasst Pierre-Olivier stolz zusammen. Hierfür kann es nur die Bestnote geben, das ist einer der Weine des Jahrgangs. Von (möglichen) 41 Plots sind alle im Grand Vin, d.h. es gibt dieses Jahr keinen Petit Cheval."

Jeb Dunnuck: "A blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Clos Saint-Martin is massive and deeply layered, with dense black fruits, truffle, chocolate, crushed stone, and floral notes. Full-bodied and powerful, it has great freshness, fine tannins, and remarkable purity. Aged for 20 months in 60% new oak barrels and 40% amphorae, this structured and mineral-driven wine will need time but should evolve gracefully for 30+ years. Total production: 416 cases."

Falstaff: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Feine Kräuternote, Edelholzwürze, schwarze Kirschen, Waldbeeren und zart nach Cassis, ein Hauch von Nougatkaramell. Saftig, engmaschig, frische Struktur, sehr finessenreich und balanciert, präsente, reife Tannine, lebendig und animierend, rote Kirschen im Abgang, salziger Nachhall, ein großes Zukunftsversprechen."

The Wine Cellar Insider: "The striking, black-purple color lets you know this is going be good. The nose, with its array of black, blue and red fruits, smoke, flowers, and Cuban cigars definitely grabs your attention. But, make no mistake, it is the multi-layered palate, with its opulence, and density that somehow also manages to be equally diaphanous that steals the show. The seamless finish effortlessly glides across your palate for more than 60 seconds! Give this beauty some time in the cellar before popping a cork. With tannins this soft, it is going to be effortless in their youth. Yet, it will age for 3 or more decades with ease. The wine blends 81% Cabernet Sauvignon with 19% Merlot. Tasted twice, this competes with the 100 Pt. 2016. Drink from 2028-2065."

Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2022 Château Duhart-Milon is all finesse and elegance, offering cassis, black raspberry, spring flowers, spicy wood, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, it’s incredibly pure, layered, and seamless, with utter class from start to finish. You can safely drink bottles anytime over the coming 30 years."

James Suckling: "This is linear and transparent with dark cherries and lemon rind. Subtle and fine. Medium-bodied with vibrating tanking that gives this vibe and length. Focused and pretty. 83% merlot and 17% Cabernet franc. Drink after 2028."

Jeb Dunnuck: "One of the more muscular, concentrated 2022s in my tastings, the 2022 Château Larcis Ducasse sports a deep ruby/plum hue to go with serious aromatics of ripe red and black cherries, smoked tobacco, new leather, truffle, and an incredible sense of crushed stone-like minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and massively concentrated on the palate, this intense, flawlessly balanced, voluptuous 2022 has a stacked mid-palate, velvety tannins, and fabulous length on the finish. I wouldn't be surprised to see this close down with 3-4 years of bottle age only to re-emerge after a decade. Based on 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc raised in 40% new oak, this modern-day legend has a terrific pH of 3.48 and an alcohol of 14.8%."

Jeb Dunnuck: "Awesome aromatics of black cherries, saddle leather, savory flowers, and incense emerge from the 2022 Château La Fleur-Petrus, another riveting wine in the vintage that brings incredible intensity while at the same time staying elegant, seamless, and flawlessly balanced. A blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, this full-bodied, seamless Pomerol has fine yet building tannins, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It picks up more and more classic La Fleur Petrus floral and spicy nuances with time in the glass, and it will have three decades of prime drinking ahead of it. It will be fun to compare this with the 2020 over the coming decades."

The Wine Advocate: "The 2022 La Conseillante is just as exquisite in bottle as it was en primeur. Wafting from the glass with an exotic bouquet of mulberries, black raspberries and plums mingled with notions of black truffle, burning embers, violets, mint and licorice, it's full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a fleshy, even unctuous core of fruit underpinned by a broad chassis of sweet, powdery and perfectly integrated tannin. This is the most lavish, sensual La Conseillante of the last decade, with the most texture and density, yet it remains unerringly precise and harmonious. It's a blend of 87% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc."

The Wine Advocate: "In bottle, the 2022 Lafite Rothschild has turned out even better than I anticipated. Wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet red berries, minty blackcurrants, violets and cigar box, it's medium to full-bodied, velvety and suave, with a deep, enveloping core of lively fruit, beautifully refined tannins, and a long, perfumed finish. Even at this early stage, it's remarkably integrated and harmonious, and it's certainly the most elegant of the first growths this year, reminding me of a modern-day version of Lafite's magical 1953."

James Suckling: "A unique white, like old Sauternes from the 1920s, showing grape skin, orange peel, apricots and pie crust on the nose and palate. Tarte tatin. It's full-bodied and very sweet but gives a dry impression from the tannins at the end. A masterpiece with a mind-bending finish. OMG. Speechless. 230 grams residual sugar. Drink or hold."

Jeb Dunnuck: "Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Haut-Bailly checks in as 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc all raised in 50% new French oak. Its deeper ruby hue is followed by a gorgeously classic Haut-Bailly nose of red and black currants, savory flowers, dried herbs, and chocolate. Reminding me of the 2009 (or maybe a mix of the 2009 and 2010) with its opulent, sexy, yet concentrated style, it still stays flawlessly balanced and light on its feet, with no sensation of weight, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It needs to be hidden in the back of the cellar for 5-7 years and will keep for 40+ years if well stored."

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."

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."

Weinwisser: "(65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 29 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot): war der erste Jahrgang, in dem bereits 30 % Trauben aus biologisch zertifiziertem Anbau verwendet wurden. Er zeigte sich an dem Tag klassisch, mit feiner Würze nach Zeder und der typisch dunklen Frucht wie Cassis. Er war ein gutes Beispiel für traditionelles Pauillac – bissfest mit deutlichem Fassausbau und markanter Art."

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."

Die Entstehung einer Legende im Pomerol in Bordeaux Chateau Le Pin wurde in den späten 1970er Jahren von der Familie Thienpont, Besitzer des unweit gelegenen Vieux Chateau Certan, gegründet. Ursprünglich handelte es sich um eine kleine, lediglich zwei Hektar große Parzelle, die von der Familie erworben wurde, um einen neuen Wein zu kreieren, der sich durch eine außerordentliche Qualität und Individualität auszeichnet. Die Familie Thienpont und ihr Einfluss auf das Weingut Innerhalb weniger Jahrzehnte gelang es Chateau Le Pin, zu einer echten Legende in der Weinwelt aufzusteigen. Dank der Expertise und dem Innovationsgeist der Thienponts wurde das Weingut zu einer der prestigeträchtigsten Marken im Pomerol. Ihre Erfahrung und ihr Engagement für höchste Qualität waren maßgeblich für den Erfolg von Chateau Le Pin verantwortlich. Terroir und Weinberg Das Terroir von Chateau Le Pin zeichnet sich durch eine dicke Schicht aus Kies und Sand aus, während der Lehm deutlich tiefer liegt. Die Böden, bekannt als „Crasse de fer“, sind charakteristisch für Pomerol. Diese Mischung aus lehmigen und sandigen Kiesböden mit Eiseneinschlüssen schafft ideale Bedingungen und verleiht den Weinen eine beeindruckende Tiefe und Komplexität. Chateau Le Pin umfasst nur eine sehr kleine Anbaufläche, die zu 92% mit Merlot und 8% Cabernet Franc bestockt ist. Auf sieben Parzellen mit einer Gesamtfläche von nur zwei Hektar wachsen die Reben mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 40 Jahren. Die Familie Thienpont legt großen Wert auf nachhaltige Anbaumethoden, um die Qualität des Weins zu bewahren und die Umwelt zu schützen. Dies umfasst den Verzicht auf chemische Pestizide und den Einsatz natürlicher Techniken zur Bodenpflege. Der Weinherstellungsprozess Die Herstellung von Chateau Le Pin erfolgt nach traditionellen Methoden, die seit Generationen weitergegeben wurden. Die Trauben werden von Hand gelesen, um sicherzustellen, dass nur die besten Früchte verwendet werden. Nach der sorgfältigen Selektion werden die Trauben sanft gepresst und in kleinen Chargen vergoren, um die individuellen Aromen optimal zu erhalten. Neben den traditionellen Techniken nutzt Chateau Le Pin auch moderne Innovationen, um die Qualität des Weins weiter zu verbessern. Dazu gehört die Verwendung von temperaturkontrollierten Edelstahltanks, die eine präzise Kontrolle des Gärungsprozesses ermöglichen. Nach der Gärung wird der Wein in französischen Barriques ausgebaut, wo er bis zu 18 Monate reift. Der gesamte Fokus liegt auf der Schaffung einer Qualität, die ihresgleichen sucht. FAQs zu Chateau Le Pin Woher kommt eigentlich der Name? Das Weingut verdankt seinen Namen dem Kieferbaum, der neben dem Haus steht, in dem der Spitzenwein produziert wird. Warum gilt Le Pin als Ausnahmewein? Chateau Le Pin gilt als Ausnahmewein, weil er sowohl die charakteristischen Merkmale des Pomerol widerspiegelt als auch eine unverwechselbare Individualität besitzt. Die Kombination aus Terroir, traditioneller Handwerkskunst und dem Engagement der Familie Thienpont macht diesen Wein einzigartig. Warum sind die Weine so selten? Die geringe Anbaufläche und die limitierten Mengen der Produktion machen Chateau Le Pin zu einem äußerst seltenen Wein. Die jährliche Produktion beträgt nur wenige Tausend Flaschen, was den Wein zu einer begehrten Rarität macht.

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."

James Suckling: "The sliced apples and pears with lemon blossoms and hints of dried pineapple and flint follow through to a medium body with brightness and energy. The finish is impressive with white pepper, crushed sea salt and spice. Really great finish here. All about energy. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon and 5% sauvignon gris. Better after 2028 but already a joy to taste."

Falstaff: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Ein Hauch von Weihrauch, feine dunkle Waldbeeren, Cassis, Heidelbeeren und Kirschen, tabakige Nuancen, ein Hauch von Mandarinenzesten. Saftig, elegant, und dabei sehr balanciert, finessenreicher Säurebogen, sehr feines, tragendes Tannin, mineralisch, ein Hauch von roten Früchten im Abgang, sehr typischer Margaux-Typus, lange anhaftend, sicheres Entwicklungspotenzial."

The Wine Advocate: "The 2022 Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande has turned out even better in bottle than I anticipated, bursting from the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with scents of licorice, violets and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, layered and enveloping, it's suave, seamless and complete, with faultless precision, pristine integration of tannin, controlled sweetness and a long, expansive finish. The 2022 manages to unite the sensuality that's the estate's calling card and the ripeness of the vintage on the one hand, with a sense of Pauillac classicism on the other, threading the needle to deliver one of the finest wines of the vintage and a benchmark Pichon Comtesse. It's a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in barriques (three months more than was formerly the case), two-thirds of which were new. As I wrote en primeur, there's more than a hint of the 1982 about this wine, and like the 1982, the 2022 will offer an exceptionally wide drinking window."

Falstaff: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Feine Nuancen von kandierten Veilchen, schwarze Kirschen, ein Hauch von Cassis und Lakritze, einladende Frucht, ein Hauch von Nugat, Komplex, saftig, kühle Beerenfrucht, feine Süße im Kern, seidige Tannine, frischer Säurebogen, mineralisch und anhaltend, ungemein attraktiv im Abgang, harmonisch und fein, großes Reifepotenzial."

James Suckling: "A scented, fresh and polished Clos du Marquis that shows tension. Medium- to full-bodied, this has blueberries and red berries with attractive minerality. A hint of pencil shavings as well. The tannins are fresh and really chalky and dissolved. 45.5% merlot, 44.5% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc. Superb balance makes it pure, almost a bit ethereal and already inviting, but this should be approached after 2028."

James Suckling: "Wow. The aromas here are so complete with blackcurrants, asphalt, violets, lead pencil, orange blossoms and black truffles. A perfect nose. It's full-bodied yet tied down with seamless tannins that run the length of the wine and give such a seductive mouthfeel and persistence. A vintage with one of the highest percentages of cabernet sauvignon ever. Quintessential, great Bordeaux with no limits. Drink after 2028."

The Wine Advocate: "From barrel, I wrote that 2022 Montrose was so compelling that assigning it a bracketed score seemed a mere formality, and so it has proven. Unwinding in the glass with a deep and brooding bouquet of cassis, wild blueberries, violets, pencil shavings and burning embers, it's full-bodied, deep and dense, somehow marrying all the tannic authority that has long been such a signature of Montrose with a suavity and purity that represents the quintessence of contemporary Bordeaux. The broad, palate-staining finish lasts for more than a minute. This is a profound young wine that readers aren't going to want to miss."

James Suckling: "Opulent and delicious with lots of green mango and pineapple aromas and flavors. Smoked cream and green apples. Showing salty, briny character, it’s dense but not heavy, flavorful and very long. Pear-drop candy at the end. Pure sauvignon blanc, as always. Rich yet lively and wonderful. Feels like a great Montrachet. One for the cellar. 8,000 bottles made. You just want to drink it. Drink or hold."

Weinwisser: "75 % Merlot, 20 % Cabernet Franc, 5 % Cabernet Sauvignon, pH 3.78, 14.4 Vol.-%, 35 hl/ha. Betörendes Bouquet, Veilchenparfüm, edle Cassiswürze, Grether Pastillen, Graphitnoten. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, balancierter Rasse, tiefgründig und elegant zugleich, engmaschiges Tanningerüst. Im konzentrierten, perfekt balancierten, nicht enden wollenden Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, Wildkirsche, dunkle Schokolade und erhabene Adstringenz. Alexandré meint kurz und knapp: "A great Wine"! Für Sohn Guillaume ist der Jahrgang ein Paradox, weil man sich viele Dinge nicht erklären kann, die aufgrund des trockenen Verlaufs hätten passieren müssen. Wird dank des hohen Lagerpotenzials noch zulegen! "

Jane Anson: "Skilful construction here, slate and pumice stone texture, with a clutch of wild roses, sage, bitter orange zest. Brambled autumnal fruits with a kiss of cloves, turmeric and baking spice reflecting the ripeness achieved within the vintage, harnessed to a sense of reserve and a foot on the break in the opulence of the vintage. Impressive, delivers on En Primeur promise. 32hl/h yield, 7.5ha. Axel Marchal consultant. 3.5ph. Harvest September 8 to 26. Peter Sisseck winemaker, co-owner with Silvio Denz. 35% new oak barrels for ageing, biodynamic certified."

Jeb Dunnuck: "Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Pavie is 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon raised in 75% new barrels for 20 months. It brings a more focused, precise style in its darker berries, graphite, crushed stone, and floral aromatics and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied Pavie with flawless overall balance, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This pure, powerful, yet aristocratic Pavie will benefit from 7-8 years (you can drink it even today) and have 3-4 decades of longevity."