Saint-Julien
Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 89–90 Deep crimson. Primary elderberry, blackcurrant aromas with espresso/ mocha notes. Well concentrated elderberry, blackberry, malty flavours, fine persistent chalky al dente textures and pronounced acidity. Finishes firm and drying. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 38% merlot. 18 months in around 35% new French oak. 12.8% alc Château Lynch-Moussas 88–89 Deep crimson. Fragrant cassis herb sage aromas with graphite notes. Fresh blackcurrant, blackberry, mulberry, graphite flavours, fine chalky/ gravelly tannins and savoury oak notes. Finishes firm, almost ferruginous with sweet fruit. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot. 18 months in up to 55% new French oak. 13% alc
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 95–96 Deep crimson. Intense blackberry, dark chocolate, hint vanilla marzipan aromas. Sweet fruited, blackberry, dark chocolate flavours, lovely chocolaty textures. Almost plush with al dente notes. Brambly cedar finish. Impressively balanced. 98% cabernet sauvignon, 2% merlot. 18 months in 100% new French oak. 12.5% alc Château Gruaud-Larose 95–96 Deep crimson. Fresh graphite, blackcurrant aromas with praline notes. Fresh concentrated juicy dark berry blackcurrant fruits, underlying dark chocolate notes and persistent chalky/ fine-grained tannins. Very good mid-palate density and mineral length. Some savoury notes at the finish. Impressive definition and precision. A classic. 84% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, 4% cabernet franc. 18–24 months in French oak. 12.5% alc Château Léoville-Las Cases 95–96 Medium-deep crimson. Blackcurrant lead-pencil cedar aromas with roasted chestnut notes. Classically structured wine with blackcurrant blackberry fruits, fine sinewy/ grainy tannins and roasted chestnut oak. Finishes muscular firm with leafy notes. Lovely precision. Fresh and voluminous but needs several years to show itself. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 5% merlot. Maturation in 85% new 94–95 Deep crimson. Classic blackcurrant cedar vanilla aromas with star anise notes. Blackcurrant espresso, vanilla flavours, fine-grained almost crisp tannins and plentiful mineral notes. Finishes cedar firm. Very expressive wine with attractive density, volume and attack. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 38% merlot, 3% petit verdot, 2% cabernet franc. 18 months in roughly 60% new French oak. 13% alc Château Léoville-Barton 94–95 Deep crimson. Very attractive cassis cedar aromas with inky graphite notes. Generous and supple with ample blackcurrant, blackberry fruits, fine slinky textures and underlying savoury oak complexity. Finishes al dente firm with plentiful dark fruits and mineral length. 84% cabernet sauvignon, 11% merlot, 5% cabernet franc. 18 months in around 60% new French oak. 13.1% alc French oak. 13.2% alc Château Beychevelle
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The Vintage Journal – International Series
Bordeaux 2022
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