Saint-Émilion
Château Canon 95–96 Medium-deep crimson. Attractive red cherry, dark plum, inky/graphite aromas with some herb garden notes. Refined and well balanced wine with red cherry, dark plum fruits, fine slinky tannins, lovely mid-palate richness and integrated savoury oak. Very decent wine for this vintage. 71% merlot, 29% cabernet franc. 16–18 months in 50% new oak. 13% alc Château Tertre Roteboeuf 95–96 Medium-deep crimson. Intense black cherry, dark plum rose garden, wax polish. Really impressive black cherry pastille, rose garden, forest floor, fine supple chalky al dente tannins and fresh toasty oak notes. Beautiful richness of flavour. Finishes firm and tight. A very successful wine. 13.5% alc Château Trotte Vieille 95–96 Deep colour. Lovely elderberry, blackberry raspberry aromas with dark chocolate notes. Sweet fruited juicy, high tensile blackberry raspberry fruits, fine supple/ al dente tannins, dark chocolate notes. Firm finish. Very precise wine. Stunning freshness and energy. Part amphora with 100% new oak used for the remainder. Clos Cantenac 94–95 Medium-deep colour. Fresh raspberry, red plum, cassis dark chocolate, hint marzipan aromas with praline/ inky notes. Supple red plum, cassis, dark plum fruits, fine chalky al dente tannins and marzipan/ roasted chestnut notes. Cedar firm finish with saline/ mineral nuances. Elegant/ slinky structure with very good density and mineral length. 95% merlot, 5% cabernet franc. 13.% alc Clos Fourtet 94–95 Deep crimson. Inky dark plum, praline aromas with herb garden/ sage notes. Well balanced wine with dark plum, blackberry fruits, fine slinky/ chocolaty textures and dukkah/ vanilla oak complexity. Finishes chalky firm and minerally. Very good density and torque. 90% merlot, 7% cabernet sauvignon, 3% cabernet franc. 14–18 months in 50% new & 48% second-year oak, 2% amphora. 13.5% alc Château Pavie Maquin 94–95 Deep crimson. Intense dark plum, dark cherry, praline aromas. Generous and refined dark plum, dark cherry dark chocolate flavours, plentiful fine al dente textures, attractive mid-palate density and vanilla/ nougat oak complexity. Finishes graphite/ sinewy firm with very good mineral length. 79% merlot, 19% cabernet franc, 2% cabernet sauvignon. 18 months in new and seasoned oak. 13.5% alc
Château Figeac 97–98+ Deep colour. Beautiful wax polish, black plum, black cherry herb dried rose aromas. Sweet fruited blackberry pastille, black plum fruits, wax polish/ inky complexity, superb mid-palate richness and fine plentiful chalky textures. Finishes cedar firm with butterscotch espresso notes. Wonderful wine highlighting the fidelity of vineyard site and the strength of Figeac’s encepagement (varietal plantings) in such a year. This will develop into something special. 29% merlot, 31% cabernet franc, 40% cabernet sauvignon. Château Ausone 97–98 Medium-deep crimson. Complex dark plum, dark chocolate, espresso aromas with herb garden notes. Richly flavoured dark plum, praline roasted chestnut toasty flavours, fine plentiful chalky tannins. Firm and minerally at the finish. Very good mid-palate density and richness. Lovely wine with superb balance and potential longevity. 65% cabernet franc, 35% merlot. Vinification in oak vats, followed by 20 months maturation in French oak. Château Angelus 96–97 Medium-deep crimson. Intense inky elderberry graphite, cedar, roasted chestnut aromas with hint violet notes. Lovely pure blackberry, mulberry fruits, graphite, al dente textures, attractive mid-palate generosity and underlying roasted chestnut notes. Finishes chalky firm with persistent dark fruits. A very well structured wine with freshness and vigour. 60% cabernet franc, 40% merlot. A cabernet franc dominant wine for the first time in the history of Angelus, highlighting the challenge of the vintage and the fidelity of the grape variety in 2021. Vinification in oak and stainless steel (merlot) and concrete (cabernet franc). 22 months in new French oak. Château Belair-Monange 96–97 Deep colour. Fresh dark cherry, dark chocolate, inky graphite aromas with marzipan notes. Generously concentrated with ample dark cherry, blackberry fruits, fine slinky/ silky textures and hint roasted chestnut/ marzipan oak. Very good mid-palate viscosity. Finishes al dente firm with lovely mineral length. Very classical in structure and concentration with a great future. Absolutely top notch. 99% merlot, 1% cabernet franc. Château Cheval Blanc 96–97 Deep crimson. Fresh blackcurrant pastille, graphite, toasty vanilla aromas. Lovely sinuous flow on the palate with plentiful blackcurrant, blackberry fruits, chocolaty textures and hint vanilla notes. Firm graphite/leafy finish. Very good mid-palate tension, density and bittersweet notes. 43% merlot, 52% cabernet franc, 5% cabernet sauvignon. 13.25% alc
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The Vintage Journal – International Series
Bordeaux 2022
37
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