Château Bellevue-Mondotte 88–89 Medium-deep crimson. Very fresh elderberry blackberry/ herb garden, vanilla aromas. Abundant sweet blackberry fruits with cedar/ sandalwood/ malty notes. Firm tobacco-leaf finish. Overdone. 100% merlot. 90% new and 10% one-year-old oak. 13.95% alc Château Berliquet 88–89 Medium-deep crimson. Pretty red plum raspberry, cassis aromas with underlying savoury notes. Medium-bodied wine with plentiful redcurrant, raspberry fruits, some mid-palate viscosity and fine dense chalky tannins. Finishes firm and minerally. 61% merlot, 39% cabernet franc. 16 months in 44% new oak and some parcels aged in four amphoras. 13.5% alc Château Grand Mayne 88–89 Medium-deep crimson. Fresh red plum, cassis vanilla aromas with inky notes. Well concentrated red plum, raspberry cassis flavours, fine loose- knit gravelly tannins and vanilla notes. Finishes chalky and crisp. 75% merlot, 25% cabernet franc. 18 months in 50% new and 50% seasoned oak. 13.7% alc Château La Couspaude 88–89 Medium-deep crimson. Chinotto, inky, red cherry strawberry aromas. Supple and sweet fruited with inky red cherry strawberry fruits, fine loose-knit cedar tannins and underlying sesame/ vanilla oak. Not a long- term drinking wine but well balanced with excellent fruit complexity and vigour. 75% merlot, 20% cabernet franc, 5% cabernet sauvignon. 18 months in new and seasoned oak. 13% alc Château La Gaffelière 88–89 Medium-deep crimson. Redcurrant, red cherry vanilla aromas with sesame/ ginger notes. Well balanced with plentiful redcurrant red plum flavours, fine chalky/ gravelly textures, toasty vanilla oak notes and underlying linear acidity. Finishes firm and crispy with juicy fruit notes. Exuberant wine with medium-term potential. 58% merlot, 42% cabernet franc. 14–16 months in new and seasoned oak. 13.7% alc Château La Tour Figeac 88–89 Deep crimson. Inky redcurrant violet aromas. Fresh redcurrant, musky plum fruits, fine al dente, touch sappy tannins and toasty, toffee/ crème brûlée oak notes. Finishes sappy/ leafy firm. Has energy and density but the tannins are on the underripe side. 60% merlot, 40% cabernet franc. 15 months in 40% new and 60% seasoned oak. 13% alc
Château Villemaurine 88–89 Medium-deep colour. Redcurrant, red cherry, chinotto with herb aniseed notes. Well concentrated juicy redcurrant red cherry fruits, fine chalky tannins, mocha notes and pronounced acidity. Finishes chalky and lacks mid-palate stuffing. 92% merlot, 8% cabernet franc. Approximately 15 months in 80% new and 20% second-year oak. 13.5% alc Château Larcis Ducasse 87–88 Deep crimson. Abundant dark cherry, brambly cedar aromas and flavours, fine gravelly/ al dente tannins, some savoury/ spicy toasty notes and mineral/ graphite flavours. Finishes al dente firm and sinewy. 86% merlot, 14% cabernet franc. 18 months in new and seasoned oak. 14.5% alc Château Saintayme 87–88 Medium crimson. Intense raspberry redcurrant fruits and brambly/ briary notes. Muscular and vigorous with fine sinewy/ powdery tannins and pronounced acidity. Finished leafy, hint metallic and tight. Underripe/ rustic structure. 100% merlot, 30% new French oak. 13.5% alc
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The Vintage Journal – International Series
Bordeaux 2022
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