This year, I wasn't able to go in "blind" having read and seen "spoilers" online about the growing season in 2022. It was quality enough even that unlike the last couple of years, even the Sauternes and Barsac were vintage-matched to the theme of the event.
Given the ripeness of the vintage, it was a bit more difficult to make a tremendous amount of differentiation in wines, or to make notes on more specific aromas or flavors. So, in many cases, I am listing the wines per region in the order I gave highest marks, on down. There wasn't one wine I'd say to avoid, so the quality level is high this vintage with nice wines all around, based on those I was able to taste within the time limits. I also spent more time this year chatting with folks, so it impeded my note taking, which is usually copious.
These will likely have wide appeal due to the harvest conditions, so if you seek out those more popular brands, be sure to get on them early. I think even those outside of the "Cru Classe" provide excellent quality and enjoyment and likely at a relative bargain. This should also be a good BDX vintage for those who possess a "California palate" to perhaps explore and break into trying wines from this region. Though not traditionally their consistent "house style", given the results of climate change, we may see more vintages of this type than not as time goes.
I failed to take any photos aside from these two. One is a new label for Desmirail to celebrate their anniversary. The other is what got more notes jotted on it than some of the wines, which was my shirt as I held my "carnet" and spit cup with too often, the pen facing me. So as I got pours and chatted with vintners, it became an inkblot. Cheers to being a bit "gauche".
Pessac-Leognan
I hit many of the whites early on and only remembered near the very end of the tasting to go back to try the reds. As such I didn't jot many impressions on the reds beyond a number of stars to recall my level of enjoyment.
Since these offered whites and reds, I categorized together.
Top marks in both white and red came from Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere. The white was exceptional with a very light style and super floral without being "perfumy". It definitely stood out for me.The red was also simply outstanding.
Chateau Pape Clement- The white has an interesting touch of tarraggon over loads of citrus. It's layered and juicy and really very nice. Lingers well on the finish. Just a tick better yet, was their red which is a super juicy expression and simply, delicious.
Domaine de Chevalier- Excellent white with citrus and stone fruit. Good minerality and outstanding texture. Nice effort also on the red which was just about "half a star" less in my notes.
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte- Good minerality on the nose. It's a somewhat savory expression with briny notes over citrus and stone fruit. Both the white and red got equal "stars", but I failed to get notes on the red. Highly recommend both.
I only tried the white from Chateau Latour-Martillac, which is delicious with an SB-focused nose and palate of bright, juicy citrus.
The white from Chateau Bouscaut was quite nice and just one tick higher for me, was their red with a nice stony minerality underlying the fruit.
Next in line of "like" for me, were
Chateau de France- Blanc had a somewhat reserved nose, but great flavor with nicely balanced grapefruit, lemon and lime. It's pleasant and floral.
A lovely, classic expression here from Chateau Haut-Bailly (red). Highly recommended.
Scoring equally here, was the rouge from Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion. Just behind a half tick, was their white. Both readily recommended.
Next in line, a nice red from Chateau la Louviere. Both the blanc and rouge were enjoyable from Chateau Carbonnieux, with the rouge just a tick higher in score for me. The blanc wasn't super aromatic and even on the palate was more subtle and citrus driven. Nice floral notes and a more moderate acidity. The rouge was also in a leaner style.
A nice white next from Chateau de Fieuzal with nice freshness and flecks of herbs adding nice complexity.
Sauternes & Barsac
Delicious efforts here.
Chateau Guiraud- Fabulous wine! Loads of apricot, peach, honeysuckle and hints of almond. It's rich, yet balanced with great acidity. A really luscious, delicious wine. My favorite of the lineup.
Chateau Doisy Daene- Has a light, floral nose and tons of brightness. On the palate, excellent acidity to balance the sweetness in flavors of honey, candied melon, apricot and peach with a touch of hazelnut. Wonderfully balanced.
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines- Interesting touch of petrol on the nose. This is a more briny, savory expression with loads of oyster shell along with candied orange peel, citrus and apricot.
Chateau Suduiraut- Lots of forward oak. It's a bigger and more unctuous expression with more cloying sweetness.
Chateau La Tour Blanche- A bit overly sweet for me. It feels heavy and unctuous without enough acidity to brighten it.
La Gauche
Margaux
Chateau Brane-Cantenac- A perennial favorite of mine from this AOC, so I may be a bit biased. That said, it leads with aromas of cedar, pencil shavings and loads of black fruit. It has tremendous balance and elegance, with a nice floral edge; it's pretty with power. Very, very nice.
Chateau Rauzan-Segla- Darker on the nose and savory with "purple" flowers. Very smooth and lush with loads of red and blue fruits. Stellar effort.
Chateau Malescot Saint-Exupery- Lovely wine. Expressive and wonderfully balanced.
After those top three, next are
Chateau Desmirail- Plush and pretty with great balance between red and black fruit with a nice savory edge on the finish. Plush and very tasty.
Chateau Lascombes- Great aromatics on this, of floral notes and plum. Grippy tannin. Flavors lean black and pueple fruit with hints of bay leaf.
Chateau Prieure-Lichine- Bright, ripe nose. The fruit here is red and black with hints of notable oak. Moderate tannin levels and is nice, though a bit oak-heavy right now. I'd love to revisit once that integrates better.
Scored nearly as high as the above 3,
Chateau Kirwan- Red and purple fruit with some peppery notes. Interesting notes of cola/sassafrass. Well layered and complex. Nice wine and with some more standout interesting flavors.
Chateau Giscours- Blue and purple fruit on the nose. Lovely wine with an herbal tinge along with a dark cocoa edge.
Chateau Dauzac- Loaded with purple fruit and flowers on the nose. Dry entry and darker leaning flavors. Nice. A big and more muscular style.
Solid examples from both Chateau Siran and Chateau du Tertre that for me are nice, but were the least remarkable. They may show more with added time in bottle. With such a ripe vintage, it's possible that only some "high notes" are showing right now.
Saint-Julien
My favorites were
Chateau Gloria- Very pretty nose and a simply gorgeous wine with excellent balance and finesse.
Next in line
Chateau Gruaud Larose, Chateau Beychevelle which is rich and round, well layered and balanced with cassis and black plum, Chateau Leoville Poyferre with its beautiful nose along with ripe red and black fruit and flowers with touches of baking spice; super luscious. Two nice wines from Barton.
Chateau Langoa Barton- Pretty berry and floral nose. It's powerful and tannic, yet remains elegant. Lots of blue and purple fruit. Very nice.
Chateau Leoville Barton- Darker, with blue and black fruit with a touch of cola. It lingers nicely and long.
Good wines, that for me, scored in the middle-
Chateau Branaire-Ducru- Pretty nose focused on red fruit and floral elements. Lots of cedar on the palate and is a touch closed off right now. It's big and tannic and needs time.
Chateau Talbot was also nice.
Pauillac
My top two:
Chateau Batailley- Really nice in a touch leaner style. More old school, which was refreshing in this pool of ripeness.
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande- Cassis on the nose with a touch of lavender florals. It's pretty and elegant with nice layers.
Next were
Chateau Pichon Baron- Pure cassis nose with flecks of bay leaf. Loads of savory cassis on the palate with lots of purity and freshness. Very nice.
Chateau Duhart-Milon- I failed to jot any impressions, but I enjoyed it.
Then
Chateau Lynch-Bages- Lovely aromas. The entry reads a touch tart/sour. It has excellent purity of fruit with good acid, driven by high toned red fruit.
Saint-Estephe
Chateau de Pez- This may have been the only wine I got to try from this AOC. It has intensely grippy tannin. It's nice but super tight right now.
Listrac Medoc
A nice effort from Chateau Fourcas Hosten.
Moulis-en-Medoc
Top wine here was from Chateau Poujeaux. Just behind this was a toasty, oak nose and though a bit heavy on the wood, should be quite nice in time- Chateau Maucaillou.
Haut-Medoc
I got to these toward the end so for time purposes, just jotted "stars" and no notes. In order of top enjoyment:
Chateau Belgrave
Chateau Cantemerle
Chateau Coufran (this one was very middle ground for me)
La Droite
St. Emilion
Top marks to Chateau Pavie Macquin- Spiced plum and cassis on the nose. The flavors follow suit and are delicious and layered with added complexity from some spices and herbs that emerge.
Chateau Canon-la-Gaffeliere- High toned expression. Lovely wine with elegance and great balance.
Next in "top marks" was from Chateau Villemaurine with a very nice effort. I didn't jot any notes on it.
The next few all got the same "score" which I considered good, solid wines.
Chateau Canon- Big! Hard to gauge due to its intensity, but had nice crunchy red fruit and purity/freshness. Needs time.
Others on the same level came from Chateau La Dominique, Chateau Franc Mayne that had some hints of brett, but showed nice earthy notes with the fruit at 100% Merlot, Chateau Grand Mayne with a beautiful nose and flavors on the richer, riper side yet with balance. Another nice wine though in a leaner, more classic style from Chateau La Tour Figeac.
Next, Chateau Berliquet- High acid. Tart red fruit. I think perhaps this just needs time to coalesce.
Pomerol
All four of these got the same "score". Pomerol seemed to have the most consistency in high quality and deliciousness (for me), on the right bank.
Chateau La Cabanne- Pretty nose of flowers and red fruits. Bright, with loads of high-toned red fruit on the palate.
Chateau Clinet- Lingers nicely on black, savory notes. Long finish.
Chateau Le Gay- Fresh and pretty. Very nice.
Chateau Petit-Village- A more toasty expression of red and black fruit. Very good.
Just a tick below, came Chateau Gazin.
