Catalog
With rare exceptions, we have never been particularly fond of second wines from grand cru estates, which are produced from a (more or less) selective sorting of the batches not used in the composition of the grand vin. However, in a great vintage, second wines benefit from high-quality batches that are not normally included in their blend and therefore offer tremendous value for money compared to the grand cru, which is two to five times more expensive.
Thus, 2022 produced second wines in Bordeaux that were well above the usual standards, with the richness, smoothness and depth typical of the vintage. For this reason, we have specially expanded our selection of second wines in 2022, all of which are already devilishly tasty and seductive.
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The second wine of Haut-Bailly, called La Parde de Haut-Bailly until 2018. In the same style as its big brother, all restraint and finesse, and increasingly charming thanks to an increased proportion of Merlot since 2010.
A second wine of “flawless consistency and unfailing elegance”, according to Bettane & Desseauve (Guide 2025).
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (September 2025): 93/100 "Haut-Bailly II is now one of the best second wines in Bordeaux; it proves this once again in 2022 with its velvety, warm, sunny and perfectly tannic flesh, which gradually gives way to a very distinguished flavour with hints of sweet liquorice and violet. Despite its high proportion of Merlot (65%), it shows perfect consistency in its stylistic continuity with the first wine."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 93/100 "The 2022 Haut-Bailly II is silky, elegant and polished. Crushed flowers, red berry fruit, cinnamon and new leather are all beautifully lifted in this gracious wine from Haut-Bailly. The 2022 is an especially delicate, refined wine that captures all the finesse that was possible in this vintage."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2036
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Second red wine of Haut-Brion, named as such since 2008 (previously Ch.Bahans Haut-Brion). To underline the stylistic kinship with his big brother, Le Clarence is put in the same very special bottle.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 93/100 "The 2022 Clarence de Haut-Brion is a fabulous second wine. Broad and explosive on the palate, with tremendous depth, the 2022 is a total stunner. Dark-toned fruit, leather, spice, menthol and espresso are all dialed up to the maximum. Rich, ample and inviting, The Clarence is positively stellar. What a vivid and deeply satisfying wine it is. All this lacks is a bit of structure on the finish, but then again, this is 2022."
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 94/100 "Dark, intense and beautiful colour. Very aromatic nose, fine, with ripe fruit, smelling of the smoky aromas of Haut Brion. It takes on a fatter appearance when the glass is shaken. A captivating wine. Delicate on the palate, rich in the middle, very tasty, the wine develops at once full-bodied, structured and highly aromatic, without ever losing its balance. Beautiful persistence, with tannins that are present but fine-grained and, in fact, always fragrant. It's the only wine I know like this."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2030-2044
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Second wine of Clos Manou, the Médoc as we like it: generous, sweet and balanced by a good vivacity. A real treat!
The 2022 vintage in the press:
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 88/100 "Dark purple colour. Very aromatic nose, with pure, fresh fruit. Delicate on the palate, perfumed in the middle, the wine melts on the palate, delicious, towards a finish with coated tannins."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2033
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Prieuré-Lichine's second wine, with a high proportion of Merlot (80%) to promote roundness and richness. Its vibrant fruitiness is enhanced by discreet ageing (no new wood, 60% second-use barrels). In short, everything you would expect from a modern second wine: a seductive profile for immediate enjoyment, but with enough substance to last at least 10 years.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
Jacques Dupont (Le Point September 2025): 94/100 “Attractive nose of sweet spices and cherry, smooth and supple on the palate, a tender style, velvety tannins, violet-flavoured liquorice on the finish”.
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2032
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Second wine of Brane-Cantenac, Baron de Brane demonstrates even more than his big brother the progress made in this château over the last 15 years. With a silky smooth 2016, deliciously crisp and juicy on the finish, Baron de Brane is now more than a second wine, it is a brand in its own right!
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (2026 Guide): 93/100 "It is not to be outdone, a pure fruit pleasure to be enjoyed without haste."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 92/100 "The 2022 Baron de Brane is gorgeous second wine. Merlot drives the blend, and that comes through in the wine's plush contours and forward, succulent fruit. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol all meld together in an effortless wine that is all charm. This is beautifully done."
J.M Quarin (February 2025): 92/100 "Dark, intense colour. Very aromatic nose, subtle for the first time. Smooth on the palate, savoury in the middle, with a melting body, the wine builds gently before shining through with its aromatic brilliance on the finish. Normal length. Delicious overall."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 91/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2035
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By the quality of the selections, and the creation of a 3rd wine from 2009, Pavillon Rouge would have easily been considered as the Great Wine of Château Margaux only 20 years ago.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026) : 96/100 « It is clear that the 2022 vintage is legendary here, as it is at many estates. Power, richness and density, but also refinement and freshness in the expression of the fruit characterise these wines. »
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 94/100 "The 2022 Pavillon Rouge is a rich, ample wine. It is also one of the most opulent, creamy editions of Pavillon Rouge I can remenber tasting. Supple and juicy, with tons of mid-palate richness and volume, the 2022 is shockingly intense in its texture. At the same time, the tannins are so polished, with no hard edges or angular contours. In 2022, Pavillon Rouge is a wine of extreme and total pleasure."
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 97/100 "Dark, intense purple colour. Very aromatic, pure, ripe, deep nose. Nuances of red and black fruit mixed with a superb touch of vanilla wood. This exotic touch suits it very well. Airy on the entry, with a fine fatness that runs across the palate, the wine is juicy, distinguished and noble. Highly aromatic, it glides along before tightening slightly in a grand finale that is both delicate and powerful. Incratchable."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 95/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 3 to 5 years
- Apogée:
- 2028-2045
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Second wine of Lagrange, of an incredible regularity in its quality as in its prices. This classic is an ideal "core of the cellar"!
The 2022 vintage in the press:
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 90/100 "The 2022 Fiefs de Lagrange is a terrific second wine. Plump, juicy and super-expressive, the 2022 is a charmer. Succulent contours wrap around a core of ripe red-toned fruit, blood orange, cinnamon and mint."
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 91/100 "Beautiful dark colour, intense and young. Lovely, very aromatic nose, with pure, ripe, vanilla-flavoured fruit. Smooth on the attack, suave and fragrant on the mid-palate, the wine develops into a mellow, juicy wine with an overall subtlety never seen before. A very fine combination of fruit and wood on the finish."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 91/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2033
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Second wine of Gruaud-Larose. In a rather powerful and tight register, Sarget is a serious and convincing Saint-Julien, with substance, at its best after 5 to 7 years of ageing.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 89/100 "Dark, intense colour. Very aromatic nose, fruity, subtle and livelier than during the Primeurs presentation. The palate is fruity, flavoursome and full-bodied, gaining strength on the finish. Normal length, seductive and fragrant."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 91/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2036
- Organic certification:
- 2022
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Named Château Lalande-Borie until 2017, Le Petit Ducru is made from plots of great classified growths. A fine and distinguished Saint-Julien, in the spirit of Ducru-Beaucaillou.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026) : 93/100
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 92/100 "The 2022 Le Petit Ducru is bursting with inky dark red/blue fruit, new leather, spice tobacco, graphite, mocha and espresso. This bold, juicy Saint-Julien offers tons of immediacy, as the Merlot was especially ripe. Le Petit Ducru is quite the extrovert, but it has good structure, too."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 92/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2035
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Clos du Marquis is not the second wine of Léoville-Las Cases, but a wine in its own right, produced on plots adjacent to Pichon-Comtesse, Léoville-Poyferré and Léoville-Barton. In any case, its exemplary consistency for over 30 years now commands respect. With great ageing potential (like all of Mr Delon's wines), it only reveals itself after at least 10 years of ageing and perfectly expresses the typical characteristics of Saint-Julien: structure, complexity and harmony.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026): 96/100 "This 2022 is already making history! It imposes its pedigree and depth on many classified growths. From the nose with its notes of black fruit, one understands the depth of the wine. On the palate, it continues with a magnificent texture and masterful balance, resulting in a wine that is long, refined and powerful. Keep a few bottles for the decades to come."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 93/100 "The 2022 Clos du Marquis is gorgeous. Resonant and quite expressive, it possesses notable textural depth and plenty of presence but never feels heavy. Inky dark-toned fruit, spice, new leather and licorice all flow across the palate. The 2022 will be an absolute delight to drink over the next 10-15 years."
J.M Quarin (February 2025): 93/100 "Dark, intense purple colour. The nose is moderately aromatic, with ripe, merlot-like fruit. Tender on the attack, suave on the mid-palate, the wine glides, caresses and finishes long, with a grain of coated tannin. It lacked a little sparkle."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 94/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2032-2048
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Second wine of Ducru-Beaucaillou. As for the other wines made by Bruno Borie (Le Petit Ducru and Ducru-Beaucaillou), La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou has considerably progressed since 2003 to the point of becoming a direct rival of the 3rd/4th classified growths of St-Julien. Moreover, it now benefits from a contribution of vines purchased from Château Terrey-Gros-Cailloux.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026) : 95/100 "La Croix, a solid and deep Saint-Julien, both smooth and intense."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 93/100 "The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is a huge, dense wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, chocolate, leather, incense and new leather saturates the palate. Broad, ample and explosive, with staining intensity, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is a plush, opulent Saint-Julien. There's tremendous textural presence here, with the tannins to match."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 94/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2030-2042
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Second wine of Pichon-Comtesse de Lalande: velvety, generous, with well-polished tannins and aromas of ripe fruit with a very Pauillaise cedar note. A reliable and regular value, quickly developed.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026) : 94/100 "Réserve should not be overlooked, as it ranks alongside a good cru classé. The high standards applied to its production result in a vibrant, refined and silky wine."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 93/100 "The 2022 Réserve de la Comtesse Is a sexy wine. Plush contours wrap around a core of black cherry, plum, graphite and dried flowers. The 2022 is unusual in that it includes all the Petit Verdot produced at the property. That's a decision that paid off hansomely."
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 93/100 "Beautiful dark red. Lovely, intense, pure nose with ripe fruit. Fat on the attack and mid-palate, melting, with hints of black fruit and fresh fruit, the wine finishes long, powerful and fragrant, with a hint of liquorice. Very good."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 93/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2035
- Potential alcohol:
- 13%
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Mouton-Rothschild's second wine, which appeared in 1993, has since made its place among its peers (Carruades de Lafite, Forts de Latour, Pavillon Rouge) by offering each vintage a great Pauillac, full, fleshy, muscular, barely less deep and full-bodied than its famous big brother but with the same cassis finish. Petit Mouton has grown up!
The 2022 vintage in the press:
La Revue du Vin de France (Guide 2026) : 96/100 "Le Petit Mouton is a fruit bomb that explodes in the mouth. It coats the palate with notes of blackcurrant, raspberry and blackberry... both dense and airy, it is a very fine, long and balanced wine."
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 91/100 "The 2022 Le Petit-Mouton is a rich, powerful wine, almost exaggeratedly so in this vintage. A blast of dark cherry, plum, leather, cloves and licorice stains the palate with notable resonance. There's a lot of wine here, but the 2022 is going to need quite a few years to shed some of its considerably youthfulness. The long, sustained finish is very promising."
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 93/100 "Beautiful dark red colour. Intense, ripe fruity nose, particularly smoky when the glass is shaken. Juicy on the attack, suave in the middle palate, with a distinguished touch, the wine rises in the finish, deep, flavoursome and long."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 94/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2032-2044
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Second wine of Cos d'Estournel, probably the best second wine of the Médoc after those of the first classified growths (for half or even a quarter of the price).
The 2022 vintage in the press:
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 93/100 "The 2022 Les Pagodes de Cos is an elegant, sophisticated wine, notwithstanding its natural textural richness. Black cherry, licorice, leather, incense, chocolate and espresso all saturate the palate. Even with all of its intensity and volume, the 2022 has just enough freshness to keep things somewhat in check. This is a very serious second wine, if that term can even be used."
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 93/100 "Deep, beautiful dark colour. Intense, fine, fruity and pure nose. Meticulous on the palate, very aromatic in the middle, with a lovely touch, the wine melts on the palate, juicy, towards a seductive finish, with present, enveloping tannicity. Very good."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 91/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2027-2040
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Vintage after vintage, Fugue de Nénin is, with its beautiful texture, well-controlled ageing and reasonable price, the best introduction to the world of Pomerol.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
Vinous (A. Galloni - January 2025): 90/100 "The 2022 Fugue de Nénin is soft, open-knit and very pretty. Crushed flowers, bright, red-toned fruit, white pepper and spice are nicely lifted in this attractive, mid-weight Pomerol from Nenin."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Ready to drink
- Apogée:
- 2025-2035
- Potential alcohol:
- 14.5%
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Quintus' second wine, Le Dragon de Quintus, is more infused than extracted, delicately wooded, with a beautiful balance between fresh fruit and velvety tannins. A sapid and sensual Dragon.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
J-M Quarin (February 2025): 91/100 "Dark, intense, slightly evolved colour. Very fine nose with pure, fresh fruit. Fat on the attack and immediately very fruity, the wine glides across the palate leaving a fine fatness on the tongue and a blackberry flavour on the finish. Very good."
Bettane + Desseauve (Guide 2026) : 90/100
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 1 to 2 years
- Apogée:
- 2026-2032
- Potential alcohol:
- 15.7%
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Second wine of Angelus, made in the same luxurious and distinguished style that has made the reputation and international success of this wine.
The 2022 vintage in the press:
Vinous (N. Matin - January 2025): 92/100 "The 2022 Le Carillon d'Angélus was an expressive Deuxième Vin from barrel. Now in bottle, it has a clean, fresh and delineated bouquet with blackberry and graphite scents. The palate is medium-bodied and slightly granular in texture, with pliant tannins. It's harmonious with a pretty, red cherry- and cranberry-tinged finish that exerts a light grip. This is quite delicious."
J.M Quarin (February 2025): 94/100 "Dark, intense, slightly evolved colour. Very aromatic, fruity and subtle nose. Smooth on the attack, delicious in the middle, with a fine fatness that runs across the palate, the wine evolves juicy, long, towards a tasty, perfumed finish. This vintage has never been so nuanced."
More- To keep or to drink:
- Wait 5 to 10 years
- Apogée:
- 2030-2044