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9st week (June 26th to 30th) : THE FINAL TOUCH

Le Pin released its 2022 last Tuesday, bringing to a close the cycle of Bordeaux 2022 releases which began at the beginning of May:

• Pomerol: Le Pin

But Bordeaux is not the only wine region where 2022 is an exceptional year. After Tardieu-Laurent's Vallée du Rhône and Peter Sisseck's Ribera del Duero, we are pleased to offer the 2022 white Burgundies from Domaine Jean Chartron :
 
• 5 villages : Rully, Savigny-les-Beaune, Santenay, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet
 
• 4 premiers crus : Saint-Aubin Les Murgers Dents de Chien, Puligny Folatières, Puligny Clos de la Pucelle, Puligny Clos du Cailleret
 
• 2 grands crus : Bâtard-Montrachet, Chevalier-Montrachet
 
After a half-harvest in 2021, Côte de Beaune winegrowers are smiling again with a 2022 vintage that is as generous in quantity as it is great in quality.
 
At the start of the summer, a very wet June (143.1 mm of rain, more than double the average of 68.1 mm) enabled the Chardonnay grapes to withstand the heat and dryness of July and August. This was reflected in the harvest, which lasted from 29 August to 16 September, even though the winegrowers initially feared that the white grapes would be picked in the first days of August.
 
Domaine Chartron produced 2022s that were full-bodied (with the aromatic richness inherent in the vintage) and serious (with a fine tension that was skilfully preserved). Slightly less demonstrative than the 2021s, these 2022s promise excellent ageing potential.
 

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8st week (June 19th to 23th) : BORDEAUX 2022 IN FULL SWING

With one exception (Le Pin), all the Bordeaux crus offered their 2022 vintages, with the final week seeing the release of :

• Bordeaux dry white: Valandraud blanc, Aile d'Argent, Smith Haut-Lafitte organic
• Bordeaux sweet white: ---


• Graves / Pessac-Léognan: Chapelle de Mission Haut-Brion, Smith Haut-Lafitte organic, Clarence de Haut-Brion, Mission Haut-Brion, Haut-Brion
• Médoc / Left Bank: ---
• Margaux: Pavillon Rouge, Margaux
• Saint-Julien: La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, Clos du Marquis, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Léoville Las Cases
• Pauillac: Petit Mouton, Mouton Rothschild
• Saint-Estèphe: ---

• Right Bank / Libournais: ---
• Pomerol: La Conseillante, La Violette, Vieux Château Certan
• Saint-Émilion: Virginie de Valandraud, Dragon de Quintus, Quintus, Troplong-Mondot, Valandraud, Canon, Figeac

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7st week (June 12th to 16th) : THE GREAT WEEK

We're now in mid-June and the greatest grands crus (including a 1er grand cru classé) are unveiling their 2022s:
 
• Bordeaux dry white: Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Domaine de Chevalier, Pape-Clément, Cos d'Estournel
• Bordeaux sweet white: ---


• Graves / Pessac-Léognan: Haut-Bailly II, Domaine de Chevalier, Pape-Clément, Haut-Bailly
• Médoc / Left Bank: G d'Estournel
• Margaux: Baron de Brane, Issan, Durfort-Vivens organic, Brane-Cantenac
• Saint-Julien: Sarget de Gruaud organic, Gruaud-Larose organic, Léoville-Poyferré
• Pauillac: Pibran, Les Griffons de Pichon Baron, Pontet-Canet organic, Lynch-Bages, Pichon Baron, Lafite
• Saint-Estèphe: Marquis de Calon, Lafon-Rochet (new), Phélan Ségur (new), Pagodes de Cos, Calon-Ségur, Montrose, Cos d'Estournel

• Right Bank / Libournais: ---
• Pomerol: Feytit-Clinet, Clos l'Église, Clinet, L'Église-Clinet
• Saint-Émilion: Côte de Baleau, Larcis Ducasse, Clos Fourtet
 

Phélan-Ségur : The latest vintages of this cru have been very convincing, with racy wines combining intensity, vinosity and finesse in the same way as those of its neighbour Calon-Ségur. Back in our selections this year is this great Saint-Estèphe, which we have not included since the 2006 vintage (departure of Thierry Gardinier).
 

Lafon-Rochet : This 45-hectare vineyard (in a single block to the south of Saint-Estèphe), famous for its Tuscan yellow façade and label, was acquired by Mr Lorenzetti in 2021. Given the investments he has made and the care he has given to the other estates in his stable of grands crus (Lilian-Ladouys, Pédesclaux and d'Issan), Lafon-Rochet looks set for a prosperous period, starting with a 2022 vintage acclaimed by the critics (95-97/100 for Galloni « The 2022 Lafon-Rochet is fabulous ».
 

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6st week (June 5th to 9th) : UPSCALING

• Bordeaux dry white: Les Arums de Lagrange, Malartic-Lagravière
• Bordeaux sweet white: ---

• Graves / Pessac-Léognan: Malartic-Lagravière, Les Carmes Haut-Brion
• Médoc / Left Bank: ---
• Margaux: Cantenac-Brown, Malescot Saint-Exupéry, Giscours, Rauzan-Ségla, Palmer organic
• Saint-Julien: Les Fiefs de Lagrange, Gloria, Lagrange, Saint-Pierre
• Pauillac: Haut-Bages Libéral organic, Pédesclaux organic, Réserve de la Comtesse, d'Armailhac, Pichon-Comtesse
• Saint-Estèphe: Haut-Marbuzet

 
• Right Bank / Libournais: ---
• Pomerol: Mazeyres organic, Gazin
• Saint-Émilion: Fonroque organic, La Gaffelière, Pavie-Macquin, Ausone
 

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5st week (May 29th to June 2nd) : RESTART

After last week's break (Vinexpo Singapore), the "Primeurs 2022" campaign is back on track with a large number of releases in just 4 days:

• Bordeaux dry white: Carbonnieux blanc, Caillou blanc de Talbot
• Bordeaux sweet white: Haut-Bergeron

• Graves / Pessac-Léognan: Carbonnieux
• Médoc / Left Bank: Sociando Mallet
• Margaux: La Tour de Mons, Marquis d'Alesme Becker
• Saint-Julien: Connétable de Talbot, Branaire Ducru, Talbot
• Pauillac: Lacoste-Borie, Grand Puy Lacoste
• Saint-Estèphe: Cos Labory
 
• Right Bank / Libournais: D'Aiguilhe, La Chenade, Montlandrie, Les Cruzelles, Domaine de l'A
• Pomerol: ---
• Saint-Émilion: Clos de l'Oratoire organic, Rocheyron organic, Canon La Gaffelière organic, La Mondotte organic
 

Cos Labory : 2022 is the last vintage to be produced by the Audoy family, who have owned the estate for a century (1922). Unable to transmit Cos Labory to the next generation, Bernard Audoy decided last March to sell it to Cos d'Estournel, his nearest neighbour (just across the road!). Through this transaction, Cos d'Estournel has recovered the entirety of its historic estate (Cos Labory was detached from it at the end of the 18th century), but has announced that it will retain Cos Labory's identity and image as a 'classic' 5th Cru Classé in Saint-Estèphe.
 

Dominio de Pingus : In the heart of Spain (Valladolid), the weather in the summer of 2022 was, in a nutshell, similar to that in Bordeaux: three months hot to very hot, dry to very dry (drought since 2021 and lasting until now). Peter Sisseck, particularly proud and happy with his 2022 vintage, has just offered his 3 Ribera del Duero wines:

• Spain: PSI, Flor de Pingus organic, Pingus organic

Top of the Top : Click on a wine to see the score and an extract from the comments of the 6 critics we regularly mention, who have now delivered their verdict on the Bordeaux 2022 wines: La Revue du Vin de France (larvf.com), Michel Bettane (mybettanedesseauve.fr), Jacques Dupont (lepoint.fr/vin/), Jean-Marc Quarin (quarin.com), Antonio Galloni and Neal Martin (vinous.com). Taking the podium of each, i.e. their 2 or 3 best scores covering around a dozen wines, we have drawn up the following list "Top of the Top" (tab above) or the very best of 2022.

Two wines have even won unanimous acclaim this year, by being simultaneously present on the podium of each review:
• Cheval Blanc on the 6 podiums. Unfortunately it's already sold out with us (we offered it 3 weeks ago).
• Léoville-Las Cases on just 5 podiums, as Jacques Dupont did not taste (?) the 2022s from the Delon estates. It will be offered in June, at a price that is likely to match its performance...
 
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4st week (May 22th to 26th) : VINEXPO SINGAPORE

Vinexpo took place in Singapore from 23 to 25 May. This was the first major event to be held on the Asian continent for 3 years (Covid crisis), and the cream of the French wine industry was there, resulting in a temporary slowdown in Bordeaux 2022 offers this week:
 
• Bordeaux dry white: Latour-Martillac
• Bordeaux sweet white: ---

• Graves / Pessac-Léognan: Latour-Martillac
• Médoc / Moulis: Potensac
• Margaux: ---
• Saint-Julien: ---
• Pauillac: ---
• Saint-Estèphe: Tour des Termes, Ormes de Pez

• Right Bank / Libournais: Les Trois Croix
• Pomerol: Fugue de Nénin, Bellegrave organic
 
Rhône Valley 2022 : For their part, Michel and Bastien Tardieu livened up the week with all their 2022s. True to their tradition of producing only the very best vintages and refraining from producing them when the circumstances are not right, 2022 marks the return of their famous Cornas Vieilles Vignes (not produced in 2021) but also the absence of their Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes rouge (not produced in 2022):
 
(VV = Vieilles Vignes = old vines)
 
• Northern Rhône Valley white: Crozes-Hermitage VV, Saint-Joseph VV, Saint-Péray VV (new), Condrieu, Hermitage
• Northern Rhône Valley red: Crozes-Hermitage VV, Saint-Joseph VV, Cornas, Cornas VV (new), Côte-Rôtie VV, Hermitage
 
• Southern Rhône Valley white: Châteauneuf du Pape VV
• Southern Rhône Valley red: Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Spéciale organic, Rasteau VV, Vacqueyras VV organic, Gigondas VV, Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Spéciale
 
• Provence red: Bandol
 
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3rd week (May 15th to 17th) : ASCENSION DAY

Although shortened by the Ascension holiday, this week of barely three days saw sustained activity with the appearance of grands crus classés in several appellations (Pessac-Léognan white, Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Émilion) and a total of more than 20 selected crus:

• Bordeaux dry white : Couhins organic
• Bordeaux sweet white : ---
 
• Graves / Pessac-Léognan : Couhins organic, Haut-Bergey organic
• Médoc / Moulis : Lousteauneuf, Madame de Beaucaillou, Charmail, La Tour Carnet, Chasse-Spleen
• Margaux : La Gurgue organic, Prieuré-Lichine, Ferrière organic
• Saint-Julien : Le Petit Ducru, Beychevelle
• Pauillac : Duhart-Milon, Carruades de Lafite
• Saint-Estèphe : ---
 
• Right Bank / Libournais : Peyrou organic, La Dauphine organic, Haut-Carles
• Pomerol : ---
• Saint-Émilion : Fombrauge, Poesia, Barde-Haut, Petit Gravet-Ainé organic, Clos Saint-Julien organic

 

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2nd week (May 9th to 12th) : KICK-OFF

The 2022 Futures really got underway this week with the appearance of significant labels such as Léoville-Barton, Angélus, Cheval Blanc...:

• Bordeaux dry white : ---
• Bordeaux sweet white : Coutet, Rayne Vigneau (new), Suduiraut, Climens bio (new)
 
• Graves / Pessac-Léognan : ---
• Médoc / Moulis : Petit Manou, Mauvesin Barton, Clos Manou, Poujeaux
• Margaux : Deyrem Valentin, Siran
• Saint-Julien : Langoa Barton, Léoville Barton
• Pauillac : ---
• Saint-Estèphe : Meyney
 
• Right Bank / Libournais : La Vieille Cure, Moulin Haut Laroque, Dalem, Clos Puy Arnaud, Louison et Léopoldine bio, La Mauriane bio, Clos Louie bio
• Pomerol : ---
• Saint-Émilion : Moulin Saint-Georges, La Dominique, Carillon d'Angélus, Angélus, Cheval Blanc
 
Accident of course: For 50 years, the Lurton family (Lucien, then Brigitte, then Bérénice) has perpetuated the status of Climens as the undisputed leader of Barsac, the finest and most delicate wine in the whole of Sauternes, with vintages that have become legendary, such as 1947, 1959, 1986.... Unfortunately, since 2016 (the last vintage offered en primeur), Climens has been absent from the market of great Bordeaux wines following an incredible succession of vintages without a harvest: 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021 (2019 small harvest not offered for sale and still in stock at the château).
 
Like the Phoenix: In financial peril, Bérénice Lurton has decided to put Climens up for sale, bought in 2022 by the Moitry family (known in the Parisian real estate business). The technical team remains in place under the direction of Frédéric Nivelle, Bérénice Lurton remains a consultant for future vintages, biodynamic viticulture remains the hallmark of the vineyard, and we are delighted to see the splendour of Climens reborn in 2022 with new means and new ambitions.
 
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1st week (May 2th to 5th) : WARM UP

The 2022 Futures started this week with some of the vintages preferring to offer their wines without waiting:

• Bordeaux dry white : Clos Floridène, Doisy-Daëne, Larrivet Haut-Brion
• Bordeaux sweet white : Doisy-Daëne

• Graves / Pessac-Léognan : Clos Floridène, Larrivet Haut-Brion
• Médoc / Moulis : du Retout
• Margaux : ---
• Saint-Julien : ---
• Pauillac : ---
• Saint-Estèphe : ---

• Right Bank / Libournais : Reynon, Puyguéraud, Alcée
• Pomerol : ---
• Saint-Émilion : ---
 
The real launch will take place next week, with some very big names already announced (Suduiraut, Climens, Léoville-Barton, Angélus, Cheval Blanc...).
 
VAT: under the French Finance Act for 2022, VAT is now payable upon receipt of advance payments for the supply of goods. This obligation, applicable to residents of the European Union since 1 January 2023, therefore concerns the 2022 Futures, which is why all prices are now displayed with VAT.