2022 Saint Estephe Vintage Report and Buying Guide
2022 St. Estephe is a vintage where the yields were down, but the overall quality was up for most vineyards. As you know by now, the vintage in the Left Bank, as well as all over Bordeaux, was shaped in large-part by the combination of heat, drought, sunshine and water replenishment at just the right times, in April and in June. 2022 was a year clearly marked by challenges. In fact, there were several points during the growing season when many growers were worried that 2022 St. Estephe would be a disaster.
Emmanuel Cruse – Chateau Lafon Rochet– “When you consider the drought, multiple heatwaves, fires, frost and numerous days over 30 degree days, it was a miracle that we were able to make wines this good!”
For many growers, the yields were impacted by the drought as well as hail storms. Not only were the young vines stressed, due to the extreme dryness in the vineyards, but the old vines delivered small berries with very little juice. Instead of volume you found intensity. The size of the berries and lack of juice lowered yields, while raising the levels of depth and concentration in the wines. All this was due to the severe drought conditions of the vintage.
Pierre Graffeuille – Chateau Montrose – “It is the lack of water, only 17 mm of moisture during the summer. The lack of water paired with 4 heat waves created a unique climatic condition that we have not experienced before that helped produce the 2022 vintage.”
Another factor shaping 2022 Bordeaux and St. Estephe is how well the Merlot ripened as you can see in the blends in the notes below. Of course, as you would expect, the Cabernet Sauvignon in the deep gravel ripened well. But, the water-retentive, clay soils in Saint Estephe,which is where you find the best Merlot, produced the magic combination of small berries, thick skins and concentrated fruits that set the tone for the 2022 vintage in St. Estephe.
Vincent Millet – Chateau Calon Segur – “2022 is special in large part due to the perfection of the Merlot grape. You can see it in our blend with 24% Merlot in the blend. That is the highest proportion of Merlot in our blend in 50 years.”
Most wines are deeply colored, aromatic, rich, deep and flavorful. The fruits are lush, sweet, and fleshy, but they have lift and energy, as well as soft, tannins and freshness. As you can see by my tasting notes below, several wines have scored quite high. In fact, a few producers have managed to make the best wines in the history in the history of the estate!
2022 Saint Estephe should turn out to be a precocious vintage that will also offer the possibility to age quite well. While the wines will be approachable in their youth, collectors with cellars and patience will be rewarded with incredible wines that will be well worth waiting for.
Every vintage is unique, which often makes it difficult for comparisons to previous years. In fact, the owner of Chateau Cos d’Estournel says he needs to go back several decades to find a previous vintage that reminds him of 2022. Michel Reybier – Cos d’Estournel – “2022 offers similar conditions to 1949, but 2022 is unique in style and character.”
Fans of wines from the Northern Medoc should take notice of 2022 St. Estephe wines. From top to bottom, there are several fabulous wines at all price ranges. As you might expect, the Second Growth wines performed spectacularly well as did all the other Classified Growths. But, there is also a wealth of quality Crus Bourgeois estates that also made outstanding wine! Something else to look out for with the 2022 vintage, many of the Second Wines are also quite tasty. So bargain hunters will find a lot to like here.
Nicolas Glumineau – Chateau De Pez – “We have been working and working on de Pez so that now, with the 2022 vintage, we are able to produce a wine that is strong enough to offer it for the first time as a Future, En Premieur. As you know, previously, the wine has only been sold in bottle, so this is quite a big step for us here.”
For a complete, detailed overview and analysis of the 2022 Bordeaux vintage and harvest with producer quotes… 2022 Bordeaux Vintage, Harvest Report
All of the following 2022 St. Estephe wines tasted in non-blind conditions in Bordeaux in April. Whenever possible, wines were tasted multiple times.
2022 Saint Estephe Wine Tasting Notes
2022 Beau-Site – St. Estèphe – Uncommonly rich for Beau-Site, the wine is packed with ripe, dark fruits, spice, licorice, and flowers. Round, fresh, and filled with chewy, sweet fruits, the finish is fresh, and fruity, offering nuances of licorice, and dark cocoa on the back end. The wine blends 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2037. 91-93 Pts
2022 Calon Segur – St. Estèphe – Inky dark in color, the wine pops with crème de cassis, blackberries, smoke, lead pencil, 5 spice, and flowers in the aromatics. The wine explodes with endless waves of cassis, peppery blackberries, Asian spice, espresso, and dark chocolate on the palate. Everything is in place here. The wine coats your teeth, palate, and gums with fruit, and freshness that sings. The seamless finish is made even better with a refreshing hit of chocolate mint at the end. The wine builds, and expands in the finish as it crosses the 60 second mark. The wine blends 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Cabernet franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 15% ABV, 3.8 pH. The harvest took place September 6 – September 27. The is the earliest harvest in the history of the property. Yields were 26 hectoliters per hectare. Only 53% of harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. The wine is aging in 100% new, French oak barrels for 20 months before bottling. Drink from 2028-2060. 97-99 Pts
2022 Calon Segur Le Marquis de Calon Segur – St. Estèphe – Spearmint, cigar wrapper, black pit fruits, and licorice show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is sweet, fresh, and chalky with loads of currants, and a touch of licorice in the fruit-packed finish. The wine is a blend of 58% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 15% ABV, 3.65 pH. Drink from 2025-2040. 92-94 Pts
2022 Capbern – St. Estèphe – Spring mint, currants, black cherries, tobacco, and a touch of spice in the nose lead the way to the palate, which, even though the alcohol is high, the fruits feel fresh, and lively, with no touch of heat. You find a nice touch of oceanic influence at the end of the finish. The wine blends 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 15% ABV, 3.8 pH. Drink from 2026-2040. 92-94 Pts
2022 Cos Labory – St. Estèphe – The dark fruits show nicely in the nose, and on the palate. Soft, and round in texture, with ripeness, freshness, and sweetness, the only issue here is too much new oak, as the wine seems dry in the finish. This the last vintage for the new owners. Starting in 2023, the team of Cos d’Estournel will take over the vineyard and production of the wine. The wine is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2040. 91-93 Pts
2022 Cos Labory Charmes de Cos Labory – St. Estèphe – Forward, early drinking, easy to like, soft, round, medium-bodied, black currant loaded charmer that is already easy to enjoy. You can enjoy this with ease on release. Drink from 2025-2030. 87-89 Pts
2022 Cos dEstournel – St. Estèphe – Opaque in color, the wine pops from the glass with black fruits, cloves, cinnamon, blackberries, blueberries, purple flowers, almonds, and smoke. The wine coats, bathes, and covers your palate with seemingly endless layers of opulent, black fruits. The cashmere tannins create the impression of velvet as the wine lingers for 60 seconds or more with its waves of black, blue. and red fruits, dark cocoa, licorice, and Asian spice. There is a seamlessness to the finish, as well as lift, and purity. This is a very hedonistic, yet elegant wine. 2022 clearly competes with the best of vintages of Cos ever produced. The wine was made from blending 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 14.04% ABV, 3.79 pH. The yields were 33 hectoliters per hectare. The harvest took place September 7 to September 23. The Grand Vin was produced from 66% of the harvest. The wine is going to approachable early in its life, yet it has the ability to age for decades. Drink from 2028-2060. 98-100 Pts
2022 Cos dEstournel Les Pagodes de Cos – St. Estèphe – Black fruits, flowers, smoke, espresso, licorice, and black raspberries blend together in the perfume. On the palate, there are layers of sweet, black raspberries coated with cocoa, licorice, and a touch of orange citrus that shows up on the very end of the finish, giving you extra levels of freshness. This is gong to be delicious if tasted early and it will age well too. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV, 3.72 pH. Drink from 2025-2040. 93-95 Pts
2022 Cos dEstournel Blanc – Bordeaux – White flowers, bright yellow citrus, green apples and pears create the enticing perfume. On the palate, it is the pomelo, lemon curd and a refreshing touch of spicy, green apples, with crisp citrus and vanilla that gives this freshness and ripe, sweet, fruit in the finish. The wine blends 74% Sauvignon Blanc and 24% Semillon. This is one of the white Bordeaux wines of the vintage! Drink from 2024-2032. 95-95 Pts
2022 Cos dEstournel Les Pagodes de Cos Blanc – Bordeaux – White peach and pomelo, with flowers, lemons, green apples and honeysuckle are found in the nose and palate here in this creamy, fresh and juicy, Bordeaux Blanc. The wine is made from 57% Sauvignon Blanc and 43% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2029. 92-92 Pts
2022 de Pez – St. Estèphe – Opening with licorice, black cherries, flowers, and blackberries, you also find of spice on the back of the perfume. On the palate, the wine is round, fresh, fruity, and loaded with crushed rocks, and stones, finishing with layers of licorice, and salty, chewy, black currants. The wine blends 59% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. After 10 years of renovations, and extensive work in the vineyards, this is the first vintage of Chateau de Pez offered as a future on the Place de Bordeaux. Drink from 2025-2037. 92-94 Pts
2022 Haut Marbuzet – St. Estèphe – A gem of a wine with its blend of ripe, fleshy, blackberries, espresso, smoke, dark chocolate, and spice. The wine is expressive, showy, and packed with layers of polished, sweet, lush fruits with length, vibrancy, and character. It is nice to see a return to a high-level of quality for this estate. Drink from 2026-2045. 94-96 Pts
2022 Haut-Beausejour – St. Estèphe – Medium-bodied, fresh, bright, sweet, dark red currants, tobacco leaves, and spice show in the nose, and on the palate, finishing with juicy, red berries, and chalky tannins on the backend. Drink from 2025-2038. 89-91 Pts
2022 Lafon Rochet – St. Estèphe – Rich in color, the wine is floral, with pepper, spice, tobacco leaf, currants, and blackberries. Medium-bodied, fresh, soft, ripe, round, and polished, with blackberries, black cherries, chocolate, spice, and cedar nuances. The fruits are fresh, bright, and creamy. Give this just a few years in the bottle and it promise to be even better! The wine was made from blending 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV, 3.77 pH. This is the first vintage with the new owner, Jackie Lorenzetti, and the team of Emmanuel Cruse, fully in charge. Drink from 2025-2045. 94-96 Pts
2022 Lafon Rochet Les Pelerins – St. Estèphe – Forward, and fruity with black cherries, licorice, and cocoa accents, the wine is medium-bodied, forward, soft, round, fresh, and fruity with a hint of chocolate at the end of the finish. This is perfect for early-drinking pleasure. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts
2022 Le Boscq – St. Estèphe – Sweet, black currants, spice, tobacco leaf, and espresso nuances are all over the wine in the perfume, and on the palate. The fruits are ripe, creamy, and polished, with a display of chocolate, and black currants in the mid-palate and finish. Drink from 2025-2040. 91-93 Pts
2022 Le Crock – St. Estèphe – Black raspberries, herbs, spices, licorice, and flowers show readily in the nose. Medium-bodied, and packed with much more fruit, and freshness than usual, this is simply a pleasure to taste. The bold, showy finish, with its layers of blackberries, crème de cassis, spice, and tobacco leaves is lifted, elegant and creamy. There is no doubt, this is the best vintage of Le Crock ever produced! This will be simply delicious on release, yet, it can age for over a decade if you prefer more secondary notes. The wine blends 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. 14.71% ABV, 3.84 pH. Drink from 2025-2040. 92-94 Pts
2022 Lilian Ladouys – St. Estèphe – Flowers, blackberries, peppery spice, and wet earth with a touch of powdered chocolate create the nose. On the palate, the wine is round, lush, sweet, and fresh. The black raspberries are peppery, spicy, and vibrant with an olive, and tobacco leaf accent on the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 8% Petit Verdot. 13.97% ABV. Drink from 2025-2038. 91-93 Pts
2022 Meyney – St. Estèphe – Leafy herbs, tobacco, currants, spice, and spearmint notes show easily in the nose, and on the long, rich palate. The wine finishes with creamy-textured currants, cocoa, spearmint, and bitter chocolate on the end note. This should age quite nicely. Drink from 2026-2045. 92-94 Pts
2022 Montrose – St. Estèphe – Almost opaque in color, the wine is equally dark in character with its core of blackberries, black currants, black cherries, and licorice. In the nose, you also find flowers, citrus, and a kitchen full of spices. The level of depth on the palate is almost off the charts, yet, the wine somehow remains light on its feet. There is intensity matched with purity, elegance and seamlessness in the finish that holds your focus for at least 60 seconds. Clearly, this is one of the great vintages of Montrose with a uniqueness of character that fans of the estate should have in their cellar. Lastly, it is important to note there is no feeling of heat, jam or over ripeness here. The wine is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV, pH 3.78. Harvesting took place September 2 – September 22. Yields were 31 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced using only 58% of the harvest. The wine is aging in 60% new, French oak barrels for 18 months before bottling. Drink from 2030-2065. 98-100 Pts
2022 Montrose La-Dame-de-Montrose – St. Estèphe – Dark black fruits, flowers, cocoa, and wet earth open the nose. On the palate is where you find this is at its best, with its layers of supple, creamy, fresh, elegant, dark red fruits, and chocolate. There is softness paired with richness, and a depth of flavor that lingers, with an energetic touch of orange rind in the endnote. You can enjoy this on release for all its up-front fruit, or age it for more complexity. The wine blends 71% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2042. 93-95 Pts
2022 Ormes-de-Pez – St. Estèphe – Black currants, and spice form the core of this wine. On the medium-bodied palate, the wine is sweet, vibrant, and packed with black fruits, wet earth, spice, cedar, and leafy tobacco. Soft, round, and generous, the peppery black fruit in the finish really works here. The wine is a blend of 51% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2042. 91-93 Pts
2022 Petit-Bocq – St. Estèphe – Black currants, savory herbs, cedar, and tobacco form the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and almost creamy with fresh, spicy black fruits in the mid-palate and in the finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2022 Phelan Segur – St. Estèphe – Deep in color, the wine is smoky, with chocolate covered plums, black raspberries, spices, violets, and cinnamon coming through in the nose. The wine is rich, lush and polished. The fruits are dark, ripe, sweet, and fresh, leaving you with a finish packed with powdered chocolate, black cherries, turmeric, black currants, plums, licorice, and espresso. This should be quite enjoyable on release, yet age for at least 2 decades or more. The wine blends 56% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 14.2% ABV, 3.8 pH. Harvesting took place September 14 – September 26. Yields were only 28 hectoliters per hectare, so not much wine was made. 2025-2045. 94-96 Pts
2022 Phélan Ségur Frank Phelan – St. Estèphe – Flowers, licorice, and red fruits create the nose. The medium-bodied wine is soft, polished, round, and fruity with sweet red berries and licorice in the finish. You should enjoy this on release for all its sweet, upfront fruits. The wine blends 80% Merlot, with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% ABV. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts
2022 Tronquoy – St. Estèphe – Dark cocoa, flowers, tobacco leaf, and spicy currants show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, lush, deep, and loaded with chocolate coated plums, spice, and cherries. There is richness to the layers of fruit on the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine sports a new name as it is now known as only Tronquoy. The label has been updated as well with a new, modernized design. 14.5% ABV, 3.8 pH. Drink from 2026-2040. 92-94 Pts
Up next, we will publish our complete guide to all of the best 2022 Pauillac wines.