Weine

The Wine Cellar Insider: Flowers, black raspberries, smoke, licorice, spice, mint, cocoa, and plums open the gorgeous perfume. On the palate, the wine is opulent, sensuous, rich, deep, and full. Flamboyant and intense, the wine coats your palate, lingers, and expands seamlessly for nearly 60 seconds. The blend is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% ABV. Harvesting took place from October 5 - October 15. Drink from 2028-2050."

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: I have long admired the wines of Nairac so it was disappointing when in some recent vintages there was to wine produced. Now managed by Grand Chais de France there is better consistency here, and the latest result is this rather fine 2022. I find the nose to be layered with honey-drizzled pear and quince, with a bright minerally edge which feels typical of Nairac. This is matched by a delightfully energetic and poised palate, with layers of citrus and orchard fruits, swirled in a sweet and waxy richness, with vibrant acid freshness. A top result with fine cellaring potential."

James Suckling: A linear and racy young Cotes de Bordeaux with blueberry, mineral and crushed-stone character. Violets as well. Medium-bodied, refined yet structured. Plenty of energy here. Persistent finish. 75% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon. Drink after 2028."

James Suckling: The nose is fragrant and inviting, offering subtle black and blue fruit, dried violets, sandalwood and stones. The medium-bodied palate shows a juicy core of fruit wrapped in dusty tannins, with a textural, lightly earthy finish. Better from 2027."

Falstaff: Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, tintig, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zartte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholzwürze, vollreife Herzkirschen, Schokolade, tabakig, zarte Kräuterwürze. Kraftvoll, elegant, rotbeerige Nuancen, präsente, eingebundene Tannine, salzig-mineralisch im Abgang, Nugat im Nachhall, zeigt Länge und Entwicklungspotenzial, eine Kombination aus Power und Finesse."

Jeb Dunnuck: From clay and limestone soils, the 2022 Château Puyblanquet (80/20 Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is a powerful wine, offering darker cherries, earth, chocolate, and violets. Beautifully integrated oak, chalky minerality, and fine tannins all give it plenty of structure, and it should evolve nicely for 15+ years. Total production: 3,333 cases."

James Suckling: A nicely structured, savory and textured Pomerol. The nose exhibits blueberries, mulberries, dark plums, dried violets, wet floor and mild spices. It’s medium- to full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Plenty of graphite character on the palate with a seductive frame of berries and spices mingling harmoniously. Well-driven with a long, focused finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2027."

Jeb Dunnuck: The flagship 2022 Château Rauzan-Ségla checks in as 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot, all aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. It's much more focused and precise compared to the second wine and has brilliant aromatics of crème de cassis, crushed violets, graphite, and smoky oak. Gorgeously concentrated and full-bodied, with riveting purity and precision, this stunning Margaux has ripe yet building tannins, a terrific mid-palate, and flawless overall balance. I love it today yet 7-8 years of cellar are warranted and it will cruise over the following 3-4 decades in cold cellars. It's another sensational wine from this estate."

James Suckling: Very complex aromas of pears, persimmons, honey and cooked apples. Mineral undertones. Always subtle and multidimensional. Full-bodied with a tight and dense middle palate that gives a superb mouthfeel. It's lively and flavorful at the end but in a reserved way. Just a hint of bitter lemon and lilac. I really want to drink this, but give it three or four years to reach the right place."

James Suckling: An attractive Pomerol with fresh plums, spiced cherries and a touch of white pepper. Ripe, fresh and layered, with fine tannins and a very lengthy, fragrant finish. 85% merlot and 15% cabernet franc. Pure and already enjoyable. Drink or hold."

Jeb Dunnuck: Blackcurrants, graphite, crushed stone, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2022 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien), another deeply colored, powerful, full-bodied Saint-Julien. Coming from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it has a layered, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It's going to stand with the truly greats from not only this terroir but the entire Médoc."

Decanter: Concentrated and expressive aromas - the TrotteVieille signature scents emerge from the glass of tobacco, liquorice, dark chocolate, roses, violets and sweet blackcurrants. Smooth and determined, this pulses with energy and cooling freshness from the start, so juicy on the mid palate, mouthwateringly so but with a soft sweetness that is really pleasant and together with slightly chewy tannins gives a plentiful mouthfeel. Tannins have a salty grip and this ends mineral with a crushed stone salinity. The finish is a touch narrow suggesting this wine has such a long life ahead yet it's one I immediately wanted another glass of and is delicious to drink even now!"

Jeb Dunnuck: The 2022 Moulin De Duhart offers classic Pauillac character, with cassis, graphite, smoked tobacco, and ripe black cherries. Medium to full-bodied, it’s pure and polished, with beautiful tannins and an incredibly elegant style for a second wine."

Falstaff: Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Ockerrandaufhellung. Dezente Röstaromen, dunkle Waldbeeren, reife Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Nougatkaramell. Komplex, engmaschig, reife Kirschen, frische Säurestruktur, reife, tragende Tannine, mineralisch und gut anhaftend, ein lebendiger Speisenbegleiter, der noch etwas Flaschenreife benötigt."

Jeb Dunnuck: The second wine of both Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion, the 2022 La Clarte De Haut-Brion Blanc checks in as a blend of 53.7% Sauvignon and 46.3% Sémillon brought up in barrel. Grilled citrus, white flowers, and a beautiful sense of stony minerality all emerge from this beauty, and it's medium-bodied, has a fresh, focused, yet concentrated mouthfeel, as well as bright acidity. It's rich and textured, yet remarkably fresh and focused. This hit 14% with a pH of 3.29. It’s great today and will be great in 8-10 years as well."

Jeb Dunnuck: The 2022 Château Valandraud is sensational, offering a massive array of blackcurrants, chocolate, smoked tobacco, baking spices, and truffly earth. Full-bodied and deeply layered, it has a velvety mouthfeel, polished tannins, and remarkable purity. It reminds me of a hypothetical blend of the 2020 and 2019. Based on 85% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, it was vinified and aged 22 months in new barrels. It will evolve gracefully for 20-30 years."

Wine Enthusiast: Dark blueberry aromas and powerfully rich tannins give a dense, concentrated wine, perhaps the most concentrated ever. The wine's impressive structure means it will age for many years. Drink from 2028."

Falstaff: Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart mit Nugat unterlegte reife Kirschfrucht, ein Hauch von Pflaumen und Lakritze, frische Orangenzesten, einladendes Bukett. Komplex, saftig und würzig, rote Kirschen, angenehme Süße, reife Tannine, gute Frische, mineralisch und lange anhaftend, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

Lisa Perrotti-Brown: The 2022 UV-SL Vineyards Chardonnay was tasted as a barrel sample. Super intense notes of lime leaves, green mango, and green apples jump from the glass with hints of wet pebbles, honeysuckle, and allspice. The full-bodied palate is so light on its feet, with vibrant citrus and mineral sparks and a lively backbone to lift the long yeasty/zesty finish. This vineyard is named after one of Sonoma’s most reputable vineyard managers, Ulises Valdez Sr. (UV), who passed away recently. The site is on Stoetz Lane (SL), only six miles from the Pacific Ocean, up on the hills around Graton and Occidental. Aubert and Valdez Sr. collaborated on the planting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here. There's a real mix of heritage clones here, making it quite complex. Around 2,000 cases will be made."

James Suckling: Intense aromas of apples, green tea leaf oil and cooked apple. Full-bodied yet so reserved and intense, with a tight palate and a long, long finish. The concentration is phenomenal, but it’s framed by near perfect phenolics. Tightly wound and weightless. So spicy at the end. Reminiscent of Montrachet. Grand cru quality. Goes on for minutes. This is fantastic now to understand it’s potential but will be even better in years to come."