The most Burgundian appellation of Bordeaux has once again stood out for its homogeneity. From north to south, from east to west there was no misstep. Very expressive Merlots, at perfect maturity, and Cabernets at their peak. Big crush for the Cabernet Francs which are simply extraordinary.
The wines are perfectly structured, racy, truly expressing the identity of each terroir. A great aromatic depth, tannins of immense finesse but above all a remarkable tension, which confers freshness and elegance.
Rest assured, 2022 will leave a mark.
1er crus classés
- Château Canon La Gaffelière 96 – 97/100
A deep purple robe. On the nose it is an elegant bouquet of blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry and subtle smoky notes. The mouth is concentrated and perfectly structured, the tannins are polished and accompanied by a nice acidity, the balance is perfect. A finish that is both fresh, sophisticated and of considerable length.
- Château Larcis Ducasse 96 – 97/100
On the nose it is clean, deep and very elegant with notes of raspberry, cherry, strawberry, blackberry, liquorice and roasting. The attack on the palate is lively, intense and of great complexity. Remarkably supple tannins supported by a nice tension. A fresh, elegant finish with great length. A wine of exceptional balance. Château Larcis Ducasse signs a formidable wine with superb potential.
- Château Pavie Macquin 97 – 98/100
A deep garnet color, the nose is seductive, captivating and very deep with notes of red and black fruits (black cherry, blackberries), spices (licorice) and tobacco. On the palate, the wine is ample, dense and very well structured. Polished tannins coat the palate, reinforced by a beautiful acidity, conferring freshness and balance. An elegantly lingering finish. A very large Pavie Macquin.
- Château Valandraud 98 – 99/100
A deep purple robe. The nose is rich and sublimely deep, exhaling notes of blackberries, blueberries, plums, liquorice, spices and subtle notes of violets. The onset in the mouth is striking in its elegance, depth and aromatic complexity. A behemoth by its structure, the balance is simply perfect between polished tannins and great tension. A finish that is both fresh, persistent and immensely elegant. One of the greats of the appellation.
- Clos Fourtet 97 – 98/100
Une robe pourpre intense. Un nez raffiné et intense sur des notes de cerises noires, mûres, prunes, réglisse et de subtiles notes florales. Un vin à la fois ample, dense, profond, avec une grande précision aromatique. Les tanins sont d’une extrême finesse et se mêlent à une grande tension ce qui confère un parfait équilibre. La finale est fraîche, élégante, et d’une extrême longueur. Une fois de plus, Clos Fourtet assoit encore un peu plus son hégémonie sur les premiers crus classés.
Grands crus classés
- Château Balestard la Tonelle 93 – 94/100
Un nez qui dévoile de très jolies notes de fruits noirs, d’épices (réglisse) et de chocolat. La bouche est fine, dense et bien structurée. Les tanins sont ronds, élégants et soutenus par une belle acidité. La finale est fraiche et bien équilibrée.
- Château Bellefont-Belcier 96 – 97/100
Deep purple in color. The nose is captivating, subtle, precise, and of a delightful aromatic intensity on notes of blackberry, black cherry, plum, liquorice and delicate minty notes. On the palate it is extremely seductive, a subtle, harmonious and perfectly structured wine, with very supple tannins supported by a nice acidity. A finish full of tension, freshness, elegance and persistence. A vintage which confirms once again that Château Bellefont-Belcier is not there to play the role of the figurative, but to get close to the greats of the appellation.
- Château Cap de Mourlin 92 – 93/100
On the nose it is refined with notes of black cherry, plum, wild berries, liquorice and chocolate. The palate is fine, round and very elegant. A beautiful tension comes to restore liveliness. A finish of the correct length.
- Château Croix de Labrie 97 – 99/100
An intense, fruity and very captivating nose, with notes of black and red fruits, small berries, spices and subtle floral notes. The attack on the palate is lively, tense and of superb aromatic depth. The tannins are supple, clean, and supported by a remarkable tension. A finish on the length, freshness and elegance. A wine full of charm that the years will sublimate.
- Château la Couspaude 93 – 94/100
A lovely aromatic intensity opening up with notes of black and red fruits (blackberry, raspberry), spices (licorice) and delicate chocolate notes. The palate is clean, tense and elegantly deep. A wine with body and very supple tannins. The finish is fresh and elegantly long.
- Château Dassault 95 – 97/100
A deep and intense nose on black fruit notes of blackberries, blackcurrants and plums with subtle notes of vanilla and coffee, wood aging is perfectly integrated. The palate is ample, dense and structured with great tension. The tannins are remarkably supple. An elegant, fresh and persistent finish. The intensity and structure of Merlot combined with the elegance and clarity of Cabernet Franc is sublime.
- Château la Dominique 94 – 95/100
Clean, fine and elegant, the nose develops notes of black cherry, blackberry, plum, and delicate herbaceous and floral notes. In the mouth it is elegant, precise with a beautiful vivacity, there are subtle chocolate and vanilla notes. A very well balanced and suitably structured wine, the tannins are wonderfully supple. The finish is refined and offers a seductive length.
- Château Fonplégade 95 – 96/100
A deep purple robe. The nose reveals a superb bouquet of blackberry, cherry, raspberry, vanilla, liquorice and delicate floral notes. The palate is lively, fruity and very well structured. Remarkably supple tannins accompanied by a sublime tension which gives a superb balance and a lot of freshness. The finish is persistent and very elegant.
- Château Fonroque 93 – 95/100
On the nose develop elegant notes of blackberry, plum, red berries, spices and fine floral notes. The attack on the palate is clean, elegant and very fresh. The tannins are supple and accompanied by a nice tension. The finish is persistent and very delicious.
- Château Franc Mayne 94 – 95/100
Deep purple in color. The nose exudes an elegant bouquet of black cherry, small black berries, liquorice, roasting, chocolate and a hint of herbaceous notes. An ample, dense wine with great depth. A structure provided by fine tannins supported by a nice tension, which offers balance and freshness. An elegantly long finish.
- Château Grand Corbin Despagne 94 – 95/100
A deep purple color. The nose is elegant and subtle exhaling very nice notes of blackberry, black cherry, liquorice, and delicate floral notes. The attack on the palate is clean, lively and very harmonious. A dense, balanced and very well structured wine with polished tannins. A finish of considerable freshness combining elegance and persistence. This 2022 is a great success for the château.
- Château Grand Mayne 94 – 95/100
A deep purple robe. The nose delivers very nice notes of blackberry, cherry, plum, liquorice, chocolate, vanilla and fine floral notes. In the mouth it is fine, deep and very elegant. A racy and very well balanced wine between polished tannins and correct acidity which gives great freshness. The finish is decently long.
- Château Jean Faure 93 – 94/100
Deep purple in color. The nose is refined, clean, and of a delightful aromatic intensity on notes of black fruits, spices and fine floral notes. On the palate it is harmonious and very well structured. The tannins are supple and revived by a nice acidity, which gives a nice freshness. The finish is sophisticated and has a good length.
- Château Larmande 93 – 94/100
The nose is elegant and deep with notes of black and red fruits (blackberry, black cherry, strawberry, raspberry), spices and flowers. On the palate it is lively, fine and fruity. The tannins are supple and are accompanied by a nice acidity, which provides balance and freshness. An elegant finish with a correct length.
- Château Mangot 94 – 95/100
The color is deep purple. On the nose it is precise and deep with notes of black fruits (blackberry, black cherry), spices (pepper) and delicate notes of garrigue. The attack on the palate is lively, dense and of great aromatic intensity. The tannic structure is supple and supported by a nice tension. A balanced, fresh finish with an elegant length. Mangot makes a grand entrance in this ranking, a first that lives up to expectations.
- Château Soutard 94 – 95/100
Deep purple in color. A charming nose with a nice intensity on notes of blackberry, cherry, liquorice and chocolate. The mouth is ample, dense, with a beautiful vivacity. A beautiful structure and a perfect balance with remarkably supple tannins. A fresh, elegant finish with a pleasant length.
- Château Tour Saint Christophe 95 – 96/100
A deep purple robe. On the nose it is fine, precise and of great depth with notes of black fruits (blackberry, black cherry), spices (licorice, pepper) and subtle floral notes. The attack on the palate is sublimely lively, combining amplitude and density, all in perfect harmony. The wine is perfectly structured, with polished tannins accompanied by a nice tension. At the end of the mouth it is of a persistent freshness. For its first classified vintage, Château Tour Saint Christophe strikes a blow.
- Château la Tour Figeac 94 – 95/100
On the nose it is clean and of a beautiful intensity on notes of blueberries, blackberries, chocolate and delicate herbaceous notes. The attack on the palate is deep, structured, lively with a nice amplitude. A very nice balance, the tannins are supple and the acidity is correct. The finish is long and of considerable freshness.
- Château Villemaurine 94 – 95/100
An intense nose with notes of blackberry, prune, chocolate and delicate floral notes. The palate is lively, ample and of great elegance. Correct structure, round tannins and seductive acidity. A refined finish with a nice persistence.
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
- Château La Fleur 93 – 94/100
A fine and fruity nose with lovely notes of red and black fruits (blackberries, black cherries, raspberries) and chocolate. The attack on the palate is clean, fruity, and of a beautiful density. A velvety tannic structure accompanied by a nice tension. A finish with a very refined length.
- Château La Gaffelière 96 – 98/100
The nose is clean, precise, fruity and of great depth, with notes of black fruits such as blackberry and black cherry, spices, chocolate and subtle floral notes. On the palate the wine is dense and perfectly structured. Aromatic intensity at its peak, with wonderfully supple tannins. A fresh, balanced and full-bodied wine. The finish is fabulously long. A fine and elegant wine that never disappoints.
- Château Haut Brisson 93 – 94/100
A beautifully intense purple robe. The nose is deep with notes of black fruits and spices. The mouth is very well structured, balanced, between supple tannins and a nice tension. A racy, fresh and elegant wine with a delightfully long finish.
- Château Puyblanquet 94 – 95/100
Deep ruby color with purplish reflections. A fine, precise and elegant nose revealing very beautiful notes of black and red fruits as well as fine floral notes. On the palate the wine is ample, dense, structured and very fruity. An ideal balance between very supple tannins and a nice tension. The finish is fresh, refined and with a nice persistence.
- Clos La Gaffelière 92 – 93/100
A clean and fruity nose with notes of blackberries, small black berries, and fine woody notes. On the palate the wine is fruity, dense and perfectly structured. A superb balance between supple tannins and great tension. A finish full of liveliness, freshness and elegance.
