Below are companion wine tasting notes to two Forbes articles I just published regarding the 2022 Bordeaux wine vintage. These wines have been bottled and are now ready to purchase to drink or store. An excellent vintage.
Uncorking Vintage 2022—Bordeaux Right Bank
Uncorking Vintage 2022—Bordeaux Left Bank and Entre-Deux-Mers
RIGHT BANK –
Saint-Émilion AOC
La Croix de Montlabert. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2022. 93 points.
85/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc that aged 14 months in barrels. Astoundingly rich, luxurious and deep aromas of red and black fruits that include cherries, as well as violets. Light, airy, breezy mid palate with flavors that include fruitcake, sultanas, black cherry compote. Neat acidity, firm tannins. Pair with sirloin steak or a hummus and a spread of winter vegetables.
Relais de La Dominique. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2022. 95 – 96 points.
From the Fayat family, this wine changed style from 2019 vintage after Gwendeline Lucas took the helm at directing the estate. Rich, classic, luscious Saint-Émilion aromas that include red cherries, pencil lead, brownies, lapsang souchon tea, leather and cedar. Complex and generous. Beautiful mouth full of rich and layered flavors with soft blue and red fruit, creamy tannins and sparky but low-key acidity. A wine that typifies the 2022 right bank vintage. Pair with grilled duck breast, lava cake or with a curry with sultanas. Uplifting.
Muse du Val. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. 2022. 94 points.
A Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend from the Alloin family from central France. Rich red plums, cherries, slight hickory and blackberry jam aromas. Springy fruit flavors, tart acidity in a wine that should be given minutes to breathe in the glass. Pair with a dessert of orange sorbet or teriyaki steak and sweet potatoes.
Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux
Château La Bretonniére. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2023. 90+ points.
Actually from 2023 not 2022, but attractive. Assembly of one third each of Sauvignon Blanc/Sauvignon Gris/Sémillon and aged in French oak for five months. Aromas of honey, green apples and guavas. Creamy mid palate with tropical flavors and acidity from the Sauvignon Blanc, roundness from the Sauvignon Gris and honey tones from the Sémillon. Slightly complex and can pair with a range of foods—from sashimi to chicken to semi-spicy Asian foods.
Famille Hubert Vignerons. Quintessence de Pey-Bonhomme. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91–92 points.
A 90/10 Merlot/Malbec blend from 55-year-old vines from the renowned biodynamic wine producer located within Blaye. Squeaky fresh aromas of juicy sliced red cherries, slight tobacco, tar and even pine resin. A clean, bright, energetic mouthful of biodynamic coherently packaged flavors—red and black cherries and some orange slices. Well-rounded and integrated with limber acidity and low key but shouldered tannins. Pair this with grilled poultry such as duck or a Moroccan vegetarian Tajine with sultanas and mint. Producer recommends pairing with beef bourguignon.
Château Luc de Beaumont. Grand Vin de Bordeaux. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 89.5–90 Points.
100% Merlot from Luc Schweitzer and sons, aged in stainless steel. Rose petal and raspberry jam aromas, as well as hickory and pine needles. Soft tannins, easy drinking with a velvety mid palate of dark plums and chocolate, with a somewhat tart acidic finish.
Château Grand Mazerolles. Grand Vin de Bordeaux. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 90+ points.
Another 100% Merlot from Luc Schweitzer of Blaye as he diversifies his range. From 25-year old vines and aged in stainless steel vats. Maple syrup and pine sap and red cherry aromas—inviting and billowing. Soft tannins, easy mid palate drinking with flavors that include mocha, coffee, raspberries and red and black cherries. Deft acidity. Pair with a creamy vegetarian lasagna or a cherry sorbet dessert.
Chateau Les Bertrands. Cuvée Vieilles Vignes. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 93+ points.
70/30 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from the right bank from Vignobles Dubois et Fils based in Reignac. Aged 15 months in stainless steel tanks. Exceedingly lovely soft and inviting aromas of red cherries, pine needles, gorse, red licorice. Beautifully silky tannins and billowing mid palate flavors that include cherries, slices of peaches, bourbon biscuits, red hot candies, chewy toffee and balsamic. Complex, generous, magnificent. Pair with shish kebab that includes red peppers and turkey and pineapples. Producer recommends pairing with entrecote grilled over vine branches, or with a cheese platter.
Château Bourdieu. No. 1. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91-92 points.
89/8/3 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec aged partially in oak. Full, rounded, creamy aromas of cassis, cedar, some smoke. A well-balanced assembly of dark fruit and spicy flavors with firm tannins and perky energetic acidity; bright red cherries on the finish. Pair with a Sunday lunch of peppery roast beef or lamb or a pesto pasta dish.
Château Bourdieu. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91-92 points.
87/10/3 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend aged in stainless steel from Luc Shweitzer—from Blaye vines that surround his family home. Chirpy, light, fresh and succulent aromas of red cherries, raspberries and some hedgerow scents. Easy drinking, fresh acidity, light and spry tannins. A light fresh wine from Schweitzer compared to previous vintages which were more focused on heft and structure. Easy drinking and ready to pair with a lemon tart dessert or a Sunday lunch of roasted pig or duck.
Château Cone-Taillasson Sabourin. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91+ points.
From the Carreau family and produced since 1832, this 70/30 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend aged for a year in non-new French oak. Jammy fruity first aromas, as well as mandarin peels, pine resin and menthol that will clear nostrils. A tense, elegant mouthful taut with tannins and acidity and billowing clouds of attractive soft red fruit flavors. Light and ready to pair with shish kebab or cherry flambé.
Château Les Clottiers. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91-92 points.
An 85/15 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Luc Schweitzer and sons aged in steel. Aromas of chalk seashore cliffs, pine needles and red plums and even a hint of orange peel from the acidity. An easy drinking wine with a mid-palate of plums, red cherries, some mint brittle with a surprising length and a finish that includes toffee and black licorice. Smackingly bright acidity, low key but firm tannins. Almost Beaujolais like with balance and fruitiness. Pair with a clafoutis dessert or blackened salmon or bulgur with munster cheese.
Château Romfort. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91 points.
From Stéphane Heurlier, this 80/15/5 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec includes 13.5% alcohol. Dark aromas that include leather and dusty mountain trail and mushrooms and sliced roma tomatoes. A firm mouthful of flavors that include dark plums, minestrone, black licorice and black pepper. Pair with charcuterie or firm cheeses.
Château Sainte Clotilde. Sir Malbec. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 90+ points.
100% Malbec aged in stainless steel. Deep dark aromas of black currants and blackberries as well as charred toast, eucalyptus. A stout flavor profile of dark fruit, dark licorice mid palate with firm tannins, with some toasted sesame on the finish. Pair with meat loaf or bulgur, mushrooms and soy. Producer recommends pairing with spicy Asian stir fry or with aromatic curry.
Chateau Barbé. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 89+ points.
From Vignobles Bayle-Carreau. 75/15/10 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec aged for over a year in oak barrels. Rich, edgy aromas of a country lane hedge, wet granite and dark fruits. A young wine still needing time to mellow the tannins, which may turn velvety after some years; quite acidic mid palate.
Château La Bretonniere. Excellence. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91+ points.
100% Merlot. A dark Merlot blend aged in French oak for a year or more with firm almost meaty tannins though with creamy fruit profile. Dark plums and black pepper mid palate. Bristling acidity. Pair with chop suey or charcuterie.
Château Saint Clotilde. Tandem. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 91 points.
50/50 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend aged over a year in French oak. Perky juicy fruity aromas that are light and well-integrated as well as scents of wet clay soil, some petrol and red cherries. Soft tannins and delicate but well-structured mouthful bristling with multiple fruit flavors, including cranberries, dark plums. Easy drinking and balanced; a sort of Beaujolais meets Cahors integration of bright fruit with dark earthy flavors that include mushrooms and beef jerky. Pair with a grilled cheese sandwich, salty peanuts or red tomatoes and beef. Producer recommends pairing with game or refined cheese.
Château La Bretonniere. AOC Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92 points.
79/16/5 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec. A sweet and feisty swirl of light, bright, creamy and also spicy aromas from Stephane Heurlier that include raspberries, dark chocolate and malt balls. A tannic and well strutured mid palate with bright black fruit flavors and slight bacon on the finish. Classic Cabernet Sauvignon profile, though with Malbec like tannins. Pair with apetizer dishes that include cashews or beef jerky.
Côtes de Bourg
Vignobles Bayle-Carreau. Château Landreau. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 89 points.
85/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon aged one year in oak. Open, rounded, floral aromas—hibiscus, queen of the night, plus some beef bourguignon and tarragon. A pleasing and easy drinking wine, although still young and somewhat tannic.
Château Eyquem. Le Point de mire. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 89-90 points.
60/30/10 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec. Aged one year in oak. Soft aromas of Merlot, creamy and fresh. Mid palate of red fruits, still somewhat tannic and angular and needing time for taming.
Chateau Tour de Guiet. AOC Côtes de Bourg. 2022. 90 points.
82/15/3 Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blend from 25-year-old vines from Monsieur Heurlier. Aged in French oak. Aromas of oxtail soup, chocolate wafers, red plums, black licorice and smoke. An easy drinking medium weight fruity wine with 14% alcohol. Mid palate flavors are a rodeo of mocha, black and blue berries, bacon and malt balls. Stout tannic profile that needs some years to mellow. Rich acidity, though only lightly pronounced. Consider pairing with a cherry dessert, or with a main course of wiener schnitzel or tabouli.
Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
Château Le Peyrat. AOC Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92-93 points.
14.5% alcohol in this 85/15 blend of Merlot/Cabernet Franc from the Vlade family. Rich, deep, royal flush aromas that tilt this in the direction of a Saint-Émilion winner. Aromas include chestnuts, hummus, eucalyptus, mint and black cherries and a somewhat wild streak of herbs. A pleasing and pleasurable mid palate that is rich and juicy, well balanced with plucky tannins and seeping with fruit and spicy flavors—think cumin and tarragon here as well as dark plums, chunks of chocolate and mint brittle. Buoyant acidity. Pair with a cherry chocolate tart dessert or teriyaki beef with wild rice.
ENTRE-DEUX-MERS
Saint Foy Côtes de Bordeaux
Chateau Carbonneau. La Verrière. Saint Foy Cotes de Bordeaux. 2022. 92-93 points.
An 80/20 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend aged one year in new French oak. A bright flush of red and black cherry and spring floral aromas, with mustard seed, sesame and menthol. A light, compact and cheerful wine—with mid palate flavors of raspberries, red plums, black pepper, pimente d’esplette (Basque pepper flakes) and slight red licorice on the finish. Light and crisp acidity dovetailing with gentle fruit and firm but recessive tannins. A near Beaujolais for southern Bordeaux. Pair with salmon or with grilled cheese on toast.
Château Carbonneau. Pur Jus. Saint-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux. 2022. 93-93 points.
90/10 blend of Merlot/Malbec. Bright and elevated aromas of light red fruit, orange slices, balsamic, sesame, tar and smoke. A sensuous and seductive mouthful of light flavors including bouillon, black licorice, red and dark plums with beautiful acidity, velvety tannins and sesame cookies on the finish. A layer cake—gorgeous. Pair with ham and baguette or cous cous with melted cheddar or brie cheese and sprinkled with paprika.
