2022 Pauillac Complete Wine Guide and Vintage/Harvest Report…
2022 Pauillac wines are stunning! 2022 Pauillac is the appellation of the vintage. For the first time, I rated 4 wines with the potential to score 100 Pts. And a few wines came within a point of triple digits. So, that is really saying something. Across the board, the 2022 vintage is simply Pauillac at its best.
2022 Pauillac wines are powerful, refined, elegant, strong, vibrant, complex and age-worthy. They have the tannic structure to age paired with perfectly, ripe, sweet fruits, and a palate marked with sensuality and freshness. It is interesting to note that the high-level of quality found in 2022 Bordeaux and in Pauillac came as a surprise to many producers.
Nicolas Glumineau – Chateau Pichon Lalande – “2022 was not expected to be such a great result. I was equally surprised to find that the vintage is such a classically styled year.”
2022 Pauillac wines are the product of hot, sunny, extremely dry conditions, that had rain not fallen at the perfect time, April and in June, things would have been radically different. Though, it is not just the addition of moisture to the vines that made the vintage. It is also important to take into consideration when the onset of the drought occurred, which was quite early in the growing season.
Helene Genin – Chateau Latour – “2022 was a very short cycle. And fortunately, the draught came early this year. The wines are a blend of sunny characteristics with ripeness, alcohol and sweetness, balanced by freshness. 2022 is very complete vintage.”
Two interesting climatic conditions were at play with 2022 Pauillac, setting the style for the vintage. As you now know, the drought came early, which is important. Next, while 2022 Bordeaux is a vintage created by its hot, sunny conditions, there is more to the story. It is important to know that the heat was not continuous. In fact, the heat was delivered in a series of 4 heat waves, which gave the vines time to cool off. In part, it was that while hot, it was not constantly hot, and you also had cool nights as well, which helped bring on necessary acidities, delivering freshness to the wine. That and the early summer rains created 2022 Pauillac.
Pierre Montegut – Chateau Pichon Baron – “With the heat, which came in 4 waves, and dry conditions, it was the June rains that made the vintage. For my first vintage succeeding from my friend Jean-Rene Matignon, I am very happy that 2022 turned out to be a huge success.”
Pauillac, with its deep gravel slopes is clearly able to handle these types of extreme, climatic conditions. The terroir, and more importantly, the ever-expanding knowledge base of the growers in understanding how to cope with hot, drought vintages has helped the vines learn to adapt to these now, frequent, hot, dry spells.
Saskia de Rothschild – Chateau Lafite Rothschild – “20 years ago, a vintage like 2022 would not have been successful. But today, with how we manage the vineyards, the vines have learned to adapt to the climate, allowing us to produce wines with this style.”
Like all of the Left Bank appellations, yields were down due to the drought, which brought small berries delivering fabulous intensity, due to the high skin to juice ratio. But, with 2022 Pauillac they faired slightly better than their neighbors in other Medoc appellations in the north. All of this produced a vintage that is unique in character and style.
Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy – Chateau Mouton Rothschild – “We broke a number of rules with the vintage. Climate wise, we have no reference point. The balance of tannins, acids and fruit expression broke the rules of classicism as we know.”
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 Pauillac wines were tasted in Bordeaux in April at either the property, or at assorted negociant, consultant or trade group tastings in non-blind conditions.
2022 Pauillac Wine Buying Guide, Vintage, Harvest Report for All the Best Wines.
2022 Batailley – Pauillac – Licorice, flowers, mint, peach, currants, blackberries, tobacco and wet forest floor aromatics create the nose. The palate is rich, supple, creamy, fresh, and loaded with sweet, blackberries, white pepper, plums, currants and spice. The wine is full-bodied, round, and concentrated, with a long endnote leaving you with peppery licorice, spearmint, and creme de cassis on the backend. The wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. 14.20% ABV. 3.7 pH. The harvest took place September 8 – September 27. Yields were 42 Hectoliters per hectare. 70% of the harvest was used to produce the Grand Vin. Drink from 2027-2055. 95-97 Pts
2022 Bellegrave (Pauillac) – Pauillac – Black currants, savory herbs, cedar, and tobacco form the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, chewy, crunchy, and crisp, with a strong, savory, and peppery edge. This is quite classic, old-school in style, that some tasters will like more than others. Drink from 2026-2042. 90-92 Pts
2022 Clerc Milon – Pauillac – Spicy red fruits, flowers, cedar, tobacco leaf, and currants make an appearance in the nose. On the palate, the wine is silky, fresh and elegant. The profile here is elegance, refinement, lift, and purity, along with a note of sweet chocolate on the very backend of the finish. This is going to be quite easy to enjoy in its youth. But, patience is a virtue. So give it some time in the bottle. as it will improve with age. The wine blends 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenere. 14.5% ABV, 3.83 pH. Drink from 2026-2050. 94-96 Pts
2022 Clerc Milon Pastourelle de Clerc Milon – Pauillac – Red fruits, tobacco, cedar, and peppery spice show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, forward, and fresh, with a sweetness to the fruits, and a delicacy, as well as freshness to the fruits on the palate. Drink from 2025-2034. 90-92 Pts
2022 Croizet-Bages – Pauillac – Flowers, cherries, currants, cigar wrappers and a touch of spice create the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, spicy, and savory, with a peppery edge to the chewy currants in the finish. Drink from 2026-2045. 90-92 Pts
2022 DArmailhac – Pauillac – Black fruits, flowers, smoke Asian spice and tobacco leaf nuances mark the perfume, while the palate is awash in luxurious, plums, currants, licorice, black cherries and cocoa. Lush, plush and polished, with a long, creamy, mint-stained finish, this is going to age quite nicely. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV, 3.83 pH. Drink from 2025-2045. 93-95 Pts
2022 Duhart-Milon – Pauillac – Lead pencil, spice, red currants, flowers, and dark cherries crowd into the nose. On the palate, the wine is elegant, refined, soft, and pure. There is density along with vibrance, spice, lift, and width. The finish, with its blend of red fruits, cocoa, orange rind, spice, espresso, and plums lingers, which is a good things as you as much of this on your palate as possible. The wine is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. 13.5% ABV, 3.9 pH. Drink from 2026-2050. 94-96 Pts
2022 Duhart-Milon Moulin de Duhart – Pauillac – Flowers, plums, chocolate, spice and fresh, sweet cherries with softness, and refinement, make this an elegant, early to drink wine. In part, what makes this such a strong wine is the addition of 15% press wine. The wine blends 87% Merlot with 13% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2032. 88-90 Pts
2022 Fonbadet – Pauillac – Blackberries, black currants, cigar wrapper, mint, tobacco leaf, cocoa, flowers and espresso beans create the aromatic profile. The wine is even better on the richly-textured palate, with its layers of black cherries blackberries, currants and chewy tannins. The finish wraps everything up with a salty accent to the lingering, dark red fruits, espresso, spice, and hint of cocoa on the backend. The wine blends 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2026-2048. 92-94 Pts
2022 Grand Puy Ducasse – Pauillac – Deep in color, the wine is equally dark in fruit. The palate is loaded with perfectly ripe, sweet, lush, blackberries, currants, herbs and spice. The finish, with its sweet and chewy crème de cassis character keeps on going. This should age for at least 2 decades with ease. Drink from 2025-2050. 92-94 Pts
2022 Grand Puy Lacoste – Pauillac – Flowers, blackberries, spice, cigar box, black currants, cherries, and cedar open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is sweet, fresh, spicy, chewy, and almost creamy in the dark, red, pit fruit finish. The wine is long, with intensity, complexity, and aging ability. The wine is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, 14.2% ABV, 3.57 pH. Picking took place September 7 – September 23. This is the earliest harvest in the history of the estate. Yields were 38 hectoliters per hectare. Only 60% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. This wine has the potential to score even higher when it is in bottle. Drink from 2027 – 2060. 95-97 Pts
2022 Grand Puy Lacoste Lacoste Borie – Pauillac – This baby Pauillac offers cassis, tobacco, cedar, and hints of peppery spice on the nose and medium-bodied, soft, juicy, berry filled palate. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts
2022 Haut Bages Liberal – Pauillac – Mint-leaf, flowers, plums, and black currants with peppery spices create the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, bright, soft, energetic, spicy, and floral. There is a lot of energy, vibrancy and freshness in this wine. The crisp, chewy, red currant finish is spicy, long, and bright, with a dab of spearmint that comes in at the end of the finish. The wine was produced from a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Merlot. 13.9% ABV, 3.54 pH. Picking took place September 6 – September 26. Drink from 2027-2045. 93-95 Pts
2022 Haut Batailley – Pauillac – Dark in color, the wine is equally dark on the palate with its layers of black, red, and blue fruits, nuances of pepper, spice box, flowers, and currants. Deep, long, chewy, creamy and intense, there are gorgeous layers of fruit here waiting to be tasted. The wine is powerful, tannic, and long. The finish sticks with its fruit, and minty edge to the endnote. The wine was made from blending 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. 14.2% ABV, 3.73 pH. Drink from 2026-2050. 94-96 Pts
2022 Haut Batailley Verso – Pauillac – Medium-bodied, forward, round, supple, peppery, and creamy, the wine offers all of its ripe, sweet, fresh currants with ease. Drink this over the next decade or so. Drink from 2025-2033. 88-90 Pts
2022 Haut-Bages Monpelou – Pauillac – Black fruit, lead pencil, blackberries, and floral notes open the wine. On the palate, the wine is sweet, ripe, forward, and fruity with ripe, chewy tannins, making this a pleasure to taste early in life. Drink from 2026-2040. 90-92 Pts
2022 La Fleur Peyrabon – Pauillac – Forward, soft, chewy, peppery red berries with freshness, spice, cedar and leafy herbs on the nose and palate. The wine is medium-bodied, forward, and fruity. This is one of the remaining values in Pauillac. The wine is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 13% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2042. 89-91 Pts
2022 La Fon du Berger – Pauillac – Medium-bodied, soft, fruity, forward, and with a core of easy to access polished currants, this is perfect for easy-drinking-consumption. Drink from 2025-2032. 88-90 Pts
2022 Lafite Rothschild – Pauillac – Garnet in color, a single swirl brings out its cornucopia of scents: flowers, currants, cherries, smoke, leather, lead pencil, Cuban cigar wrapper, orange rind and smoke. The wine is pure silky, elegance in texture. This is perhaps the most sensuous vintage of Lafite ever produced with its dream texture on the palate. In the mid-palate, the wine shifts from black to red to black fruits before moving to its wave of orange citrus, ending with refreshing mint notes. The purity in the fruits is striking. The over 60-second finish is seamless, which is a good thing, because this wine is so good, you never want it to end. The wine is complete from start to finish. The wine blends 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. It is interesting to note that the wine includes 17.5 % press wine in the blend, which sets a record for Lafite. 13.6% ABV, 3.85 pH. Harvesting starting August 31 for the young Merlot vines, for the grapes used in the Grand Vin, September 5 – September 23. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. 40% of the harvest went into the Grand Vin. This is an earth-shattering vintage of Lafite that buyers with the disposable income should add to their cellar. Drink from 2030-2065. 98-100 Pts
2022 Lafite Carruades de Lafite – Pauillac – Once past all of its florality, the wine moves to its red, and black fruit side. With a racy, freshness, the palate offers sweet, ripe, berries, lift, energy, purity and elegance. The finish is where its racy edge shines most with all of its layers of black currants, black plums, spice and flowers. The wine is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 13.7% ABV, 3.7 pH. The wine consists of roughly 35% of the harvest. Drink from 2026-2042. 93-95 Pts
2022 Latour – Pauillac – Dark in color, the fruit profile is equally dark with its blackberries, black currants, aged, Cuban cigars, flowers, tobacco leaf, orange rind and black cherries. Finesse balanced with power, and length. Purity meshed with elegance, and strength. It takes only sip to declare its character, which is its layers of depth, regal austerity and refinement. There is a diamond like exterior to the fruit, delivering a modern classic-style that is a slightly austere, cool, sensuous and powerful style of Latour. There is ample concentration of fruit, with firm tannins and a seamless finish packed with currants and orange rind that keeps on going, well past the 60-second mark. It might not be for sale for a decade. But, if you are a fan of Latour, when this comes up for sale, grab it, as it represents everything great about Chateau Latour! The wine is a blend of 92.45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7.4% Merlot and .015% Petit Verdot. 14.19% ABV, 3.85 pH. Harvest September 6 – September 24. The wine represents less than 39% of the harvest. Yields were 30.6 hectoliters per hectare. Last, but not least, in case I was not clear about how good this wine is, not only is a candidate for wine of the vintage, but it competes with any of the best vintages of Latour ever produced! Drink from 2032-2065. 99-100 Pts
2022 Latour Les Forts de Latour – Pauillac – Tobacco leaf, peppery herbs, creme de cassis, forest floor, cedar, and white pepper notes open the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is sweet, rich, ripe, fresh and clean, with layers of blackberries, and black currants. There is a softness to the tannins, as well as structure to the creamy-textured wine, and freshness in the finish that you can feel as it lingers. The wine was produced from blending 58.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37.9% Merlot, and 3.4% Petit Verdot. 14.47% ABV, 3.7 pH. The wine represents 41% of the harvest. Drink from 2028-2045. 94-96 Pts
2022 Pauillac de Latour – Pauillac – Blackberries, black currants, and tobacco leaf show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is loaded with sweet and spicy spicy cassis with ample lift and freshness. There is tension and finesse with chewy fruits in the mid-palate and in the finish. You can think of this as a baby Latour. The wine was produced from a blend of 48.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46.2% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.14.9% Abv, 3.7 pH. Drink 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts.
2022 Les Sadons – Pauillac – Cedar, tobacco leaf, currants and peppery spice form the character of this medium-bodied, forward, easy-drinking, soft, currant, and blackberry filled wine. Drink from 2025-2035. 89-91 Pts
2022 Lynch Bages – Pauillac – Opaque in color, the wine is packed with with smoky cassis, blackberries, tobacco leaf, black cherries, licorice, flowers, chocolate, and blackberry liqueur. Powerful, full-bodied, rich, dense and intense, the wine is long, vibrant and intense. 2022 is a palate staining wine with never before seen levels of concentration. But, even with all that concentration, the wine remains balanced, fresh, and Pauillac in style. The finish holds your attention for 50 seconds or more while it builds and refreshes. The wine blends 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, 14.2% ABV. 3.71 pH. The harvest took place September 12 – September 24. The yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced from 70% of the harvest. Drink from 2027-2060. 96-98 Pts
2022 Lynch Bages Echo de Lynch Bages – Pauillac – Tobacco, smoke, forest leaf and blackberries are what you find in the nose and on the palate. This superb baby Lynch Bages is an outstanding Pauillac on its own, due to its core of cassis, blackberries, spice, smoke, cigar box and herbs. The fruit is sweet, ripe, and vibrant. The wine is blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2040. 90-92 Pts
2022 Lynch Bages Blanc de Lynch Bages – Bordeaux – Flowers, lemons, white peach, orange rind, white flowers and spice show in the nose and on the bright, citrus, pear and green apple filled palate. This is going to be delicious on release. The wine is produced from blending 67% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Semillon and 11% Muscadelle. Drink from 2023-2032. 93-93 Pts.
2022 Lynch-Moussas – Pauillac – The nose shows its tobacco leaf, cedar, lead pencil and currant side with a single swirl. On the palate, the wine is soft, polished, and fresh, with black raspberries, currants, licorice ,and most importantly, sweetness, and lift to the red berries as well as a nice licorice accent on the back of the finish. Give it a few years in the cellar before pulling a cork, and it will be even better. The wine blends 74% Cabernet Sauvignon with 26% Merlot. 14% ABV. 3.7 pH. The harvest took place September 8 – September 27. Drink from 2026-2050. 92-94 Pts
2022 Mouton Rothschild – Pauillac – Dark in color, and equally dark in fruit, this is a flamboyant, ostentatious, opulent, velvet-textured Mouton that is on the exotic side. Perhaps, this is a modern version of the 1982? The wine exudes its blackberry, boysenberry, chocolate, Asian spice, tobacco leaf, licorice, smoke, and cigar wrapper notes in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is incredibly dense. There is so much fruit, you wonder if it would be better eating this with a spoon, before taking another sip? The finish is rich, intense, velvety, long, and close to seamless, holding court for over 50 seconds. I love the touch of spice that shines before the wine fades from your palate. The wine blends 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot. 14% ABV, 3.89 pH. The harvest took place September 1 – September 26. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare. Only 49% of the harvest was used to produce the Grand Vin. Drink from 2030-2065. 98-100 Pts
2022 Mouton Rothschild Petit Mouton de Mouton Rothschild – Pauillac – Flowers, cherry pipe-tobacco, black raspberry, spearmint, black cassis, and plums open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is lush, fresh, sweet, spicy, pure, and rich, with a vibrant, long deep, black and blue fruit and tobacco packed finish. This is Jr. Mouton Rothschild! The wine blends 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19.% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.14.2% ABV, 3.86 pH. Drink from 2024-2045. 95-96 Pts
2022 Mouton Rothschild Aile D’Argent Blanc – Bordeaux – White peaches, lemon rind, flowers, grapefruit and spice are all over the place. The wine is fresh, sweet, creamy, and spicy, with ample levels of sweet, ripe, fruits, and peaches in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. The wine was made from a blend of 52% Sauvignon Blanc, 39% Semillon, 8% Sauvignon Gris and 1% Muscadelle. Drink from 2024-2030. 94-94 Pts.
2022 Pedesclaux – Pauillac – On the floral edge, with black currants, black cherries, licorice, cigar box and forest floor in the nose, the palate is round in texture. The fruits are fresh, creamy, sweet, ripe and lively, with a finish that is long, and layered with red, black and blue fruits. Give it a few years in the cellar, and enjoy over the following 2 or more decades. The wine is blended using 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 14.44 % ABV, 3.86 pH. Harvesting took place September 12 – September 22. Yields were 37 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2025-2050. 93-95 Pts
2022 Pedesclaux Fleur de Pedesclaux – Pauillac – Forward, early drinking, soft, round, creamy-textured, red pit -fruit charmer that is perfect for early-drinking, Pauillac enjoyment. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts
2022 Pibran – Pauillac – Flowers, currants, and tobacco are what you initially find at the core here. On the palate, the wine is sweet, chewy, fresh and fruity. Normally, Pibran is a strict, rustic styled wine. But with the 2022, the fruit delivers more sweetness, lift, length and softness than I have ever seen here. This is a steal of deal for savvy, Pauillac wine buyers. The wine is made from blending From a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.14.8% ABV, 3.58 pH. Drink from 2028-2042. 90-91 Pts
2022 Pichon Longueville Baron – Pauillac – With a solid depth of color, the wine jumps from the glass with its show display of licorice, black fruits, lead pencil, currants, lavender, cocoa, and spice in the aromatics. The show-stopping palate is rich, intense, long, concentrated, spicy, and most importantly, concentrated and pure. While your palate bathes in the wine, the sensation is all about its freshness, purity and length. The first vintage produced with the efforts of the estates new Technical Director, Pierre Montegut is a resounding success. This is clearly one of the best vintages in the history of Pichon Baron! The wine blends 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot. 14.3% ABV, 3.63 pH. The harvest took place September 8 – October 3. Yields were 34 hectoliters per hectare. 48% of the harvest went into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2028-2065. 97-99 Pts
2022 Pichon Baron Les Griffons de Pichon Baron – Pauillac – This elegant expression of Pauillac displays its wealth of cassis, blackberries, chocolate, and flowers easily in the perfume. The palate, however, is where this shines. The layers of ripe, sweet, crème de cassis, peppery, currants, licorice, dark cocoa, and a touch of citrus meld together perfectly. The wine is refined, clean, packed with fruit, reasonably forward, and filled with character. The wine was created from a blend of 50% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV, 3.57 pH. Drink from 2027-2045. 93-95 Pts
2022 Pichon Baron Les Tourelles de Longueville – Pauillac – Crème de cassis, flowers, blackberries, tobacco leaf, and peppery spice are found in the nose. Sweet, fresh, and lively on the medium-bodied palate, the wine provides elegance, lift, and layers of sweet, ripe berries on the mid-palate, and in the finish. While you can enjoy this on release, it promises to be better with age. The wine is a blend of 65% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc. 14.4% ABV, 3.58 pH. Drink from 2026-2040. 89-91 Pts
2022 Pichon Comtesse Lalande – Pauillac – With an inky, dark, garnet hue, the wine asks for a bit of coaxing before its leather, cedar, spice, flowers, truffle, mint, currants and dark cherries show in the perfume. The wine is pure silk on the palate. There are no edges or corners. Everything feels in place. It is completely seamless. The wine is pure, fresh, and expansive. The mid-palate picks up its currants and plums, while the finish holds them in place, and expands in all 4 directions, with perfect balance in its 60-second plus finish. This is the best vintage of Pichon Comtesse ever produced! If you have the extra money, this is the wine to buy as it will provide dividends for decades as it ages and evolves. The wine blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 13.65% ABV, 3.80 pH. The harvest took place September 6 – September 27. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Only 50% of the harvest goes into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2027-2065. 98-100 Pts
2022 Pichon Lalande Comtesse Réserve – Pauillac – Truffle, tobacco leaves, black currants, cedar, and hints of peppery spice show in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is clearly a baby Pichon. It is medium-bodied, elegant, soft, silky and lifted, with layers of finesse-oriented dark, red pit fruits that make you want to go back for another sip. This is just as good most vintages of the Grand Vin from the 80s and 90s. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2040. 92-94 Pts
2022 Pontet Canet – Pauillac – Deep purple with a blue hue in color, the wine is almost opaque in color. Cassis, flowers, plums, licorice, and tobacco leaf aromas adorn the perfume. It is already clear that with this wine, it is the purity in the fruit that stands out. The palate is equally pure, with its layers of glycerin-filled blackberries, and plums. The wine is lush, as well as refined. The finish meshes concentration with elegance, power with purity, lift and length. The peppery, spicy note, along with the resounding minty-freshness, and a touch of anise in the long, finish is what stands out here. There is no sensation of heat or over ripeness in this wine in the mid-palate or in the finish.
2022 Pontet Canet blends 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot.14.7% ABV, pH 3.8. Harvesting took place September 8 – September 28. This is longest harvest and the earliest harvest in the history of the estate. The wine is aging in a combination of 50% new, French oak, and 35% Amphora. Pontet Canet is often a slow starter in barrel. My score could go higher when the wine is in bottle. Drink from 2028-2060. 96-98 Pts
Up next, a complete look at all the best 2022 St. Julien wines.