The 2022 Pessac Léognan wines, as you can see from my tasting notes below, are simply fabulous. What often happens in Pessac Léognan is that vintages tend to favor either the red wines or the white Bordeaux, due to climatic conditions. However, that is not the case here. In fact, several properties produced equally strong red and white wines.
More than just scores, buyers should pay close attention to the character and style of the wines, which truly matter with the 2022 Pessac Léognan. The reds are stunning! They are concentrated, elegant, silky, and vibrant, offering fabulous energy and length. The whites, while not quite at the level of the sublime 2021s, are beautiful to taste, providing lift and purity, which can often be tough to achieve in hot, dry years.
It is not only the vineyards in Pessac Léognan that perform well with the 2022 Bordeaux; several estates in Graves also produced solid red and white wines, which sell for a song. Value seekers should definitely pay attention to those properties. One ither point, we did not have the chance to taste 2022 Haut Brion, and 2022 La Mission Haut Brion. I am looking forward to tasting both wines in April, and to reporting back to you with the results. For a detailed look at the 2022 Bordeaux, the wines, the growing season, and harvest 2022 Bordeaux Vintage Detailed Analysis
2022 Pessac Leognan and Graves Red and White Wine Buying Guide.
2022 Bouscaut – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers and tobacco come alive here in the nose, and on the fresh, supple, creamy, and elegant palate, finishing with sweet, red pit fruits, berries, and a refreshing hint of chocolate-orange on the backend. The wine blends 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Malbec. Drink from 2027-2040. 92 Pts
2022 Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Cinnamon, white peach, pineapple, green apples, and lemons are all over the nose, and palate. The wine is vibrant, fresh, and juicy, with a sweet, lemon, and white peach note in the finish that works well here. The wine is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2034. 92 Pts
2022 Bouscaut Les Chenes de Bouscaut – Pessac-Léognan – Light, fresh, and vibrant, with a bit of a smoked-chocolate-edge to the juicy currants on the soft-textured, palate, this will be delicious to enjoy on release. Drink from 2025-2032. 89 Pts
2022 Bouscaut Les Chenes de Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fruity, with honeysuckle accents, and green apples form the nose and the palate here. The wine is sweet, lifted and ready to go for early, uncomplicated, drinking pleasure. Drink from 2025-2029. 88 Pts
2022 Cantelys – Pessac-Léognan – With a hint of spice accompanying the tobacco and currants in the nose, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, forward, vibrant, and frankly, charming, with its hint of cocoa and sweet cherries in the finish. Drink from 2026-2037. 91 Pts
2022 Cantelys Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Quite floral in nature, from there you find pineapples, pears, and orange rind which fills the nose, and the fruity, creamy finish. This is a well-priced, white Bordeaux that really hits the spot. The wine blends 50% Sauvignon Blanc with 50% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 90 Pts
2022 Carbonnieux – Pessac-Léognan – Once you’ve discovered the flowers, cocoa, and fruits in the nose, you move to the palate. Creamy, smooth, and round, the fruits are smoky, lush, and topped with dark chocolate, espresso, and a refreshing mint accent that adds to the experience. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2045. 93 Pts
2022 Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Juicy yellow citrus with a touch of crushed stones, and green apples make everything work in this creamy, and fresh, lemony, floral wine. The wine blends 65% Sauvignon Blanc with 35% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 92 Pts
2022 Carrosse Martillac L’Equipage – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, light, pleasant, easy-to-drink charmer with an outgoing, soft, fruity, personality that is ready to go on release. This will be at its best over the next few years. Drink from 2025-2032. 87 Pts
2022 ChateauOlivier – Pessac-Léognan – Olives, smoke, black plums, black cherries, flowers, and tobacco spring from the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, creamy, lively, and silky, with ample layers of sweet, ripe, dark fruits, cocoa, and minerality in the finish adding more lift and complexity. The wine blends 49% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026-2040. 93 Pts
2022 ChateauOlivier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, white peach, pineapples, and green apples fill the nose, and palate. The finish displays sweet, creamy, pineapples, with crunchy green paples, white peach, and pears. The wine blends 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2033. 92 Pts
2022 Clos Marsalette – Pessac-Léognan – Scoring at the top of my range, aromatically, it takes little effort to find the cigar box, cedar, and dark, red pit fruits in the nose. The palate is equal to the task with its generous serving of sweet, black currants, silky tannins, burnt, cigar wrapper, and mint in the elegantly-textured finish. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2038. 93 Pts
2022 Clos Marsalette Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Orange, vanilla, and apricot, with white peaches, and lemon curd fill this creamy, lushly textured white Bordeaux wine. The wine blends 55% Sauvignon Blanc with 45% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 91 Pts
2022 Couhins – Pessac-Léognan – The blast of flowers in the opening salvo is just great. From there, the wine hits your palate with its creamy-textured, layers of rich, plush, fruit. The finish has real staying power, which is just great because you are going to want more of those juicy, chocolaty fruits, with their gentle touch of ginger and spice that linger. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. 2022 marks the first vintage as being certified as 100% organic. Drink from 2027-2042. 93 Pts
2022 Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Fresh, juicy, yellow citrus rind and white flowers create the perfume here. On the palate, the wine is sweet, lush, and creamy with a vibrant freshness to the waxy lemons in the long, juicy, finish. The wine blends 95% Sauvignon Blanc with 5% Sauvignon Gris. Drink from 2025-2030. 93 Pts
2022 Couhins La Dame de Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, lemons, green apples and honeysuckle, already pop in the nose, and on the, fruity palate. Drink from 2025-2031. 89 Pts
2022 Couhins Lurton – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, truffle, cigar box, and black cherries with a blast of cocoa show in the perfume. The palate is even better with its soft, silky, fresh, and polished layers of lush, sweet, ripe, but not overripe dark red fruits, spice, and cocoa. This should be delicious to taste, just about on release. This is showing better in the bottle, than it did in the barrel, which is always a good sign. The wine blends 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2026-2040. 94 Pts
2022 Cruzeau – Pessac-Léognan – Leafy herbs, flowers, currants, and anise open the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, has good energy, and a creamy red pit fruit finish. Drink from 2026-2037. 90 Pts
2022 Cruzeau Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, and lemon peel shine here in nose, and in the round, creamy, fruity finish. Drink this over the next few years for its fruity character. Drink from 2025-2029. 89 Pts
2022 Domaine de Chevalier – Pessac-Léognan – Silk, and velvet, power, elegance, length, and purity are what you find here. Supple, creamy, refined, and most importantly energetic, this is stunning from start to finish. The fruits are perfectly ripe, refined, and deep. The cherry and plummy finish resonates, builds, and expands as it lingers. The purity expressed in the fruits with their silky textures, balance, and harmony defines the wine. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc create the blend. Collectors should note that with this vintage, bottles will feature a special label celebrating Olivier Bernard’s 40th vintage at Domaine de Chevalier. Drink from 2029-2060. 97 Pts
2022 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Juicy, fresh, sweet, dynamic, citrusy, and packed with layers of intense yellow, citrus, white peach, pineapples, green apples, vanilla and spice. The wine balances intensity with vibrancy, length, creamy, sensuous textures, and finish that starts, and keeps on going. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc, with 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2040.. 96 Pts
2022 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Yellow citrus, honeysuckle, grapefruit and lemon rind aromas pop in the perfume. Fresh, vibrant, and fruity, this is already delicious in your glass. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2032. 93 Pts
2022 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, tobacco, wet earth, and smoke add to the red fruit profile. Medium-bodied, elegant, vibrant, and fruity, with just a touch of espresso accompanying the fruits on the mid-palate, and in the finish, this is perfect for ordering in restaurants or cafes with its ready-to-go characteristics. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2035. 92 Pts
2022 Domaine de la Solitude – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, wet earth, spice, and black cherries with a touch of flowers pop in the nose. On the medium-bodied palate loads of sweet, ripe, juicy, dark red fruits, freshness, and creamy tannins. This is going to be delicious on release. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 40% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2038. 92 Pts
2022 Domaine de la Solitude Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Floral in nature, with green apples, vanilla, and orange rind show in the nose. The juicy, citrusy palate is fresh, and refreshing with a nice show of yellow citrus in the creamy finish. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 91 Pts
2022 Fieuzal – Pessac-Léognan – Dried flowers, underbrush, cigar box, licorice, and sweet red, pit fruits create the nose. The palate, with its supple, creamy-textured personality is vibrant, and fruity, finish, with ample, gorgeous, chocolate-tinted, cherries, currants, and blackberries. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2045. 93 Pts
2022 Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, white peaches, lemon rind, and orange notes shoot from the perfume. The palate is creamy, yet fresh, which is perfect for its white peach, and lemon curd, tropical profile. This will be great in your glass on release. The wine blends 55% Sauvignon and 45% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2032. 92 Pts
2022 Fieuzal L’Abeille de Fieuzal – Pessac-Léognan – Light notes of cocoa, flowers, and cherries set off the soft, forward, light palate, making this perfect for early-drinking pleasure in a cafe, or bistro. Drink from 2025-2031. 90 Pts
2022 Fieuzal L’Abeille de Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Bright yellow citrus with lime, and green apple notes that already show in the nose, and fruity palate. Drink from 2025-2029. 88 Pts
2022 Guiteronde – Pessac-Léognan – Round, lush, forward, open juicy, and fruity, with a core of chocolate-coated red fruits is made in a consumer-friendly style, delivering its pleasures on release. Made from 100% Merlot, I liked the wine, though it is not a typical Pessac character. Still, this is a top example of a superb, Bordeaux Value wine that sells for about $10. It is a steal at that price. Drink from 2025-2034. 90 Pts
2022 Haut Bailly – Pessac-Léognan – Elegant, sophisticated, lively, and long, the wine opens with an aromatic display of flowers, cigar box, blackberries, currants, smoke, cherries, and espresso. On the palate, the wine displays levels of finesse coupled with concentration that is difficult to achieve. The finish perfectly displays its elegant character, layers of perfectly ripe, vibrant fruits, and a fabulous sense of purity, providing the backdrop to age, and evolve for decades. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Petit Verdot. As this evolves, it could score higher as Haut Bailly is a wine that does not always express all it has to offer in its youth. Drink from 2030-2060. 98 Pts
2022 Haut Bailly II – Pessac-Léognan – Vibrant, elegant, floral, and on the black, with red fruit side of the style range, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, silky, and creamy, with energy, and a spicy touch to the classy fruits on the mid-palate and in the finish. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec. This is the first vintage incorporating the vines from Chateau Le Pape. Drink from 2025-2037. 92 Pts
2022 Haut-Bacalan – Pessac-Léognan – Lush, creamy, soft, forward, and packed with all the lush, polished, red, and dark red pits you need here. There is a bit of oak that needs to meld into the wine, but that is not going to stop fans from consuming this consumer-friendly wine on release. Drink from 2026-2040. 92 Pts
2022 Haut-Lagrange – Pessac-Léognan – Vibrant fruits with a hint of smoke, tobacco, and herbs pop in the nose while tasting and feeling great on the medium-bodied, forward, fruity palate. This is already quite charming, and ready to go. Drink from 2025-2037. 90 Pts
2022 La Garde – Pessac-Léognan – Cocoa, flowers, and red fruits pop in your glass with a single swirl. The medium-bodied palate is even better with its fresh, juicy, elegant red fruits, hints of tobacco, spice, and a drop of chocolate in the finish. Drink from 2024-2032. 92 Pts
2022 La Garde La Terrasse de La Garde – Pessac-Léognan – Produced from a parcel selection, the wine is loaded with black with red currants, underbrush, and leafy tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh, and forward, with a touch of chocolate in the finish to round everything out. Drink from 2025-2037. 90 Pts
2022 La Louviere – Pessac-Léognan – The striking floral bouquet from the outset of the perfume grabs your attention. The palate is even better with its layers of refined, elegant, supple, creamy fruits that express a gorgeous sense of purity that hits you from the mid-palate, through to the finish. You can enjoy with pleasure with minimal aging, or cellar it for more complexity, and secondary nuances. Drink from 2028-2045. 94 Pts
2022 La Louviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Blending fresh lemons and green apples in the nose is a good way to start off the wine. The palate is juicy, sweet, and creamy with loads of pineapples, and refreshing, orange, with yellow citrus in the mildly, chalky finish. Drink from 2025-2030. 92 Pts
2022 La-Tour-Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, burning wood, cigar box, licorice, blackberries, and black cherries open the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is refined, elegant, lush, and packed with layers of sweet, ripe dark, red fruits, dipped in chocolate. There is lift, and energy here, allowing all of that fruit to shine, and linger. Drink from 2027-2042. 94 Pts
2022 La-Tour-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemon curd, honeysuckle, candied orange rind, and roasted pears with a touch of butter crowd into the perfume. The palate continues with the sweet, citrus theme with its vibrant display of green apples, pineapple, lemon curd and white peaches. The wine blends 52% Sauvignon Blanc with 48% Semillon. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2034. 93 Pts
2022 Lagrave Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Roses, smoke, tobacco, and red currants hit the nose and medium-bodied, light, fresh, and cherry-filled palate. Drink this while waiting for the Grand Vin to come around. Drink from 2025-2032. 90 Pts
2022 Larrivet Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Smoky red fruits, tobacco leaves, cherries, strawberries, and spearmint create the nose. It is medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, and refined. The concentrated finish is loaded with sweet red pit fruits and features a chocolate-mint note that appears in the long, refreshing end notes. The wine blends 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2045. 94 Pts
2022 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – The nose reveals notes of white flowers, grapefruit, spearmint, orange, mango, green apple, and pineapple. From there, sweet yellow and orange citrus, pineapple, white peaches, and pears carry through from the mid-palate to the creamy, fruit-filled finish. The wine blends 86% Sauvignon Blanc with 14% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2034. 94 Pts
2022 Latour Martillac Lagrave Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Spicy green apples, flowers, and green apples with a touch of crisp yellow citrus is on display. The palate, with its sweet, lively fruits is already delicious in your glass. Drink from 2025-2030. 90 Pts
2022 Le Thil Comte Clary – Pessac-Léognan – Leafy tobacco, smoked red pit fruits, and chocolate blend in the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, lush, and fruity, and best of all, it’s already delicious, so it will be easy to enjoy on release. The wine was produced from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2037. 91 Pts
2022 Leognan – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, forward, soft, open, and already accessible, it is easy to find and enjoy the wine’s bright red currants, spiced, red plum center, and soft-textured finish. This will be ready to go on release. Drink from 2025-2031. 88 Pts
2022 Les Carmes HautBrion – Pessac-Léognan – At the same level as the perfect, 2016, this is an extraordinary tasting experience. Opaque in hue, aromatically, the wine delivers a cornucopia of fruits, incense, curry, flowers, and smoke. The palate is even better with its endless layers of seamless fruits that caress your senses with their display of salt-tinged, spices, crushed rocks, pit fruits, berries, and white pepper. The seamless finish crosses the 60-second with poise, refinement, and purity. The wine was made using 60% whole bunch clusters, blending 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot. The wine was aged in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 20% foudres, and 10% amphora. Drink from 2029-2060. 100 Pts
2022 Les Carmes HautBrion Le C Les Carmes HautBrion – Pessac-Léognan – Herbs, sea salt, spice, and black cherries jump in the perfume. The palate is elegant, supple, fresh, and fruity, with vibrant, refined textures, and a mineral-driven finish. Using 30% whole bunches in the vinification, the wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine is aged in 20% new, French oak barrels. Drink from 2025-2037. 93 Pts
2022 Lespault-Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Espresso, licorice, dried flowers. cigar wrappers and black currants build the nose. The palate enjoys loads of soft, sweet, ripe, dark pit fruits with polish, lift, roundness, and energy that linger, leaving you with a hint of cocoa, and mint in the endnotes. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027-2040. 93 Pts
2022 Lespault-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Juicy citrus, and flowers display their wares easily here. The palate, with its slightly chalky edge, offers light, and a hint of cooling herbs in the finish, which I like, for its refreshing charm. The wine blends 70%, old vine, Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2032. 93 Pts
2022 Luchey-Halde Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Juicy, ripe, sweet, creamy citrus shows as soon as the wine hits your glass. I like the roasted pineapples in the finish. Drink from 2025-2028. 88 Pts
2022 Malartic Lagraviere – Pessac-Léognan – Lush, full-bodied, creamy, and also, vibrant, fresh, and lively, the wine serves up layers of perfectly ripe, sweet, lusciously-textured blackberries, plums, and black cherries with ease. There is weight and density, but there is also ample freshness to keep this going on your mid-palate and in the finish. The wine blends 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2029-2055. 96 Pts
2022 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, ginger, lemon rind, pineapple and white peach scents are easy to pick up on the nose. On the palate, the wine is equally lush, and lifted, with sweetness,, elegance, and purity, as well as freshness in the finish. The wine blends 76% Sauvignon Blanc with 24% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2034. 94 Pts
2022 Malartic Lagraviere Le Comte de Malartic – Pessac-Léognan – Light, fresh, vibrant, medium-bodied, fruity, and crisp, this is going to be perfect to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. Drink from 2025-2030. 90 Pts
2022 Malartic Lagraviere Le Comte de Malartic Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, green apples, and honeydew melon create the perfume. Forward, juicy, fresh, and fruity, finishing with more of those delicious green apples, pears, and lemon rind in the endnotes. This will be ready to go on release. Drink from 2025-2030. 90 Pts
2022 Olivier Le Dauphin d’ Olivier – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, strawberries, and cherries blend perfectly to produce a light, fresh, open, early-drinking charmer that is ready to go on release. Drink from 2025-2031 89 Pts
2022 Olivier Le Dauphin d’ Olivier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, and yellow citrus form the nose, palate in this ready to go, already, charming, white, Bordeaux wine. This will be at its best in its youth. Enjoy this over the next couple of years while the Grand Vin develops. Drink from 2025-2029. 88 Pts
2022 Pape Clement – Pessac-Léognan – Absolutely stunning, this majestic charmer hit everything right this year. Concentrated, lush, plush, and full-bodied, there is also a sense of lift, and vibrancy. Opaque in color, the wine initially grabs your attention with its showy display of flowers, cinnamon, chocolate, blackberries, and black cherries in the perfume. But, it is the palate that steals the show with its intensity, length, and energy. The wine blends 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2030-2060. 97 Pts
2022 Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, pineapples, white peach, and honeysuckle crowd into the perfume. The palate is lush, rich, ripe creamy, juicy, fruity and chalky, with a refreshing touch of sea salt on the backend of the concentrated, long, round finish. The wine blends 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon, and 2% Muscadelle. Drink from 2025-2037. 95 Pts
2022 Rochemorin – Pessac-Léognan – Mildly smoked red currants and forest leaves permeate the nose. On the palate, the wine is light, fresh, and savory, with elegant tannins, and sweetness to the soft, red fruits in the finish. This is a wine you can enjoy on release and for a decade or more after that. Drink from 2025-2038. 91 Pts
2022 Rochemorin Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Orange rind, green apples, white peach, and candied lemons on the nose, as well as in the creamy, sweet, palate and finish. Drink from 2025-2029. 90 Pts
2022 Seguin – Pessac-Léognan – A superb effort here, this medium-bodied, elegant, expression is lifted, fresh, and fruity, with a delicate touch of mint in the endnote providing a refreshing characteristic to the refined, red berry finish. Drink from 2026-2042. 92 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – Almost opaque in hue, the wine jumps from the glass with its showy display of flowers, smoke, cigar wrapper, blackberries, and black currants. If that wasn’t enough to keep you busy, the palate, with its multiple layers of black, with blue fruits drenched in espresso, chocolate, smoke, and spice will seal the deal. Opulent, as well as refined, the finish lingers, and expands on your palate for more than 50 seconds! Is this the best vintage of Smith Haut Lafitte ever produced? With aging, if the score goes up, it could be! Drink from 2030-2060. 98 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Spice, honeysuckle, lemon rind, green apples, pears, and pineapples pop from the glass, with a single swirl. Juicy, sweet, vibrant, and fresh, the finish is packed with layers of sweet, fresh, energetic, lemons, pineapples, honeysuckle, and a hint of herbs on the backend. Long, lush, and expansive, this is a beauty! The wine blends 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, and 5% Sauvignon Gris. Drink from 2025-2038. 96 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, chocolate, and cherry aromas pop in the perfume. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with elegant, fresh, sweet, ripe blackberries, black currants, and black cherries with nuances of smoke, espresso, chocolate, licorice, and marine influences that pop up in the back of the finish, adding more length, and vibrancy. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2040. 93 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, round, soft, and elegant, the wine is packed with round-textured, sweet, black cherries, chocolate, espresso, spice, licorice, and freshness, with a sprig of mint on the backend. Give it a year or two in the cellar, and it is going to be even better! The wine blends 60% Merlot with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2038. 93 Pts
2022 Trigant – Pessac-Léognan – With a smoke and tobacco accent to the red fruits in the nose and a medium-bodied palate, the wine is forward, soft, fruity, and will be ready to go on release. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 40% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2036. 90 Pts
2022 Graves Red and White Bordeaux Wines…
2022 Bonnat – Graves – Medium-bodied, fresh, forward, and fruity, with a touch of espresso-tinted chocolate in the finish. This will be ready to go on release. Drink from 2025-2032. 88 Pts
2022 Callac Prestige – Graves – Medium-bodied, vibrant, fresh, chewy red fruits shoot to the nose and palate in this forward, ready-to-drink wine that will be ready to go on release. Drink from 2025-2032. 88 Pts
2022 Cerons – Graves – Minty-fresh, chewy wine with a core of tobacco-tinted, red berries that are almost light in weight. There is a tartness to the red berries in the finish. Drink from 2025-2032. 87 Pts
2022 Clos Floridène – Graves – Flowers, citrus, currants, and strawberries define the nose. The medium-bodied palate is fresh, zesty, and loaded with more of those sweet, ripe, red fruits with their tobacco, and spicy edge. Give it a year or two in the cellar before popping a cork, and it will be a better wine. Drink from 2025-2037. 91 Pts
2022 Des Fougeres Clos Montesquieu – Graves – Tobacco, herbs and crisp, bright, red berries in the nose, and on the palate are accompanied, by a savory, leafy edge, and a refreshing touch of mint that comes in at the end of the medium-bodied, mid-palate, and finish. Drink from 2025-2036. 90 Pts
2022 Ferrande – Graves – The plums, cherries, and cocoa in the nose offer the perfect setting for the medium-bodied, forward, fresh, and lively red berries with a hint of chocolate on the palate. Early drinking and fruity, this is going to be enjoyable on release. Drink from 2025-2034. 91 Pts
2022 Ferrande Blanc – Graves – Loads of creamy yellow, citrus, and flowers, with a touch of orange rind that are already delivering the goods. You can enjoy this now as it will be delicious on release and over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2028. 89 Pts
2022 Haura – Graves – I like the black with red fruits and their hint of smoke here. The wine hovers between light, and medium-bodied, with enough zesty freshness giving it lift and energy here. You can enjoy this on release, and for at least a decade after that. Drink from 2025-2035. 90 Pts
2022 Haut Selve – Graves – Medium-bodied, with a core of mint, tobacco, savory herbs, and currants. The finish is on the rustic side, with bright, chewy red berries on the back end. Drink from 2025-2032. 88 Pts
2022 Mejean – Graves – Dark, red pit fruits, smoked herbs, burnt earth, and cigar notes take over here. The secondary nuances take over the fruits in the nose, and palate, else, the wine would earn a higher score. Drink from 2025-2035.. 88 Pts
2022 Portets – Graves – Light, early-drinking, pleasant, cherry, and red currant-filled wine that starts out well, but finishes dry, with an herbal edge. Drink from 2025-2032. 88 Pts
2022 Rahoul – Graves – Flowers, cherries, smoke, tobacco, and underbrush crowd into the perfume. On the palate, the wine is round, creamy, and spicy with good energy that allows all the sweet, ripe, fruits to linger in the finish. Drink from 2025-2035 91 Pts
2022 Rahoul Blanc – Graves – Flowers and juicy lemons get the wine going in all the right directions. Juicy green apples with a squeeze come through in the creamy finish. Drink from 2025-2029. 90 Pts
2022 Respide Callipyge – Graves – A touch of espresso meshes perfectly with the tobacco and black cherries in the nose. I like the palate even more with its soft, creamy-edged textures that linger through to the finish. This is a beautiful Graves that sells for a song. Drink from 2025-2037. 90 Pts
2022 Roquetaillade La Grange – Graves – The wine quickly hones you in on its core of red currants, and strawberries. The nose, with its tobacco, mint, and red fruit is more interesting than the palate, which starts off nicely, but finishes dry. Drink from 2025-2032. 89 Pts
Next, we continue our guide to the best 2022 Left Bank wines with our focus on all of the top 2022 Haut Medoc Listrac and Moulis Wines followed by 2022 Medoc Wines before we head over to the Right Bank for the top 2022 St. Emilion and 2022 Pomerol wines.
