2022 Pessac Leognan Wine Guide, Vintage and Harvest Report…
2022 Pessac Leognan was challenging from start to finish. There were more difficulties here than in much of Bordeaux. Pessac Leognan received less water during the growing season than all of the other major appellations. It is also obvious today that climate change concerns more than just heat and a lack of water. Frost, and even hail storms are becoming a yearly occurrence with detrimental results, depending on the vineyard and on the speed of the growth in the vines cycle.
Veronique Sanders – Chateau Haut Bailly – “The frost was the most difficult part of the growing season. That’s because most frost years, it is easy to know the loss of crops. But with 2022, we needed to wait until harvest to know what our crop would be.”
May saw temperatures warming and June brought rain that was going to be needed to get the vines through the summer heat and drought. Fortunately, the heat waves were not continuous. Instead they came in multiple waves, late in June, and again in July and August. But the heat coupled with the drought had growers fearing that the wines could lack freshness.
Jean-Phillipe Delmas – Chateau Haut Brion – “2022 Pessac Leognan is difficult to explain. This is not a by the numbers vintage. The 2022 vintage is much more complicated. Reading the data, you find high alcohol levels. But, you also enjoy freshness in the wine with no jam or over ripeness in the fruits. The wines are quite energetic.”
2022 Pessac Leognan marks the earliest start for the harvest of the white Bordeaux wine grape harvest in the history of the appellation. Picking started as early as August 9 for the Sauvignon Blanc and just a few days later, August 13 for the Semillon for many vineyards. Late is never great is a popular saying in Bordeaux. But picking fruit this early is not something growers were accustomed too. Several vignerons were concerned that the wines would be out of balance.
Olivier Bernard – Domaine de Chevalier – “I was not so confident during the growing season, as this type of vintage has not happened before. But now that our wine is finished, honestly, I love the 2022 vintage!”
The red wine grape harvest for 2022 Pessac Leognan was also exceptionally early. Growers began harvesting the young vines before the end of August, as early as August 29. Picking of the old vines started Monday, September 5, finishing at most estates by the third week of September.
Once the fruit was harvested, it was imperative that producers take it easy in the cellars, as 2022 Pessac Leognan was not a vintage that needed a lot of extraction, as the wines were already naturally concentrated.
Guillaume Pouthier – Chateau Les Carmes Haut Brion – “2022 Pessac Leognan can be called a less is more vintage. You had to be easy and careful in the cellars. We vinified at lower temperatures and gentle infusions and less extraction.”
Having tasted widely through 2022 Pessac Leognan, I love the wines. However, 2022 is a red wine vintage, which is not always the case. But, with 2022, it is clear. The white wines are ripe, round, soft and aromatic, with ample sweetness and fruit, but many lack the enough acidity to age and develop. That is balanced by being drinkable early. Just about every white 2022 Pessac Leognan will
be fun and pleasurable to enjoy on release.
The 2022 Pessac Leognan red wines are splendid! They are rich, refined, creamy, fresh and express a beautiful symmetry and purity in the fruits. Most are precocious and will be easy to taste early, yet have the structure to age and evolve for decades. And, as you can see from my tasting notes below, a few estates have produced the best wine in the history of the estate! In fact, the level of quality in the 2022 red wines surprised some of the producers as well.
Jean Jacques Bonnie – Chateau Malartic Lagraviere – “The level of quality surprised us. With all the heat and dryness, we feared overripe, overly alcoholic wines. It was not until late in August that we began thinking we had a special vintage on our hands, as long as we picked at the right time.”
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 Pessac Leognan red and white wines were tasted in Bordeaux in April in non-blind tasting conditions. The wines were tasted either at the chateau, negociants, or trade groups. Whenever possible, the wines were tasted more than once.
2022 Pessac Leognan Red and White Wine Report
2022 Bouscaut – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, black cherries, leaves, and spice notes weaves together in the nose before you get to the medium-bodied, round-textured, creamy layers of ripe, fresh, smoky, spicy berries. The wine blends 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Malbec. 14.1% ABV. Drink from 2025-2040. 91-93 Pts
2022 Bouscaut Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Layers of creamy, guavas, grapefruit, pineapple, flowers, and lemons are all over the nose, and palate here. The finish adds pink grapefruit, and peach notes to the sweet, fruity finish. The wine is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon. 13.6% ABV. Drink from 2024-2030. 91-91 Pts
2022 Cantelys – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, soft, forward, early-drinking, plummy, charmer with hints of spice, coffee bean, and cocoa on the backend. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts
2022 Cantelys Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Creamy fresh, green apples, honeysuckle, and yellow citrus with floral notes are all over the place on the nose and palate. This is a well-priced, white Bordeaux that really hits the spot. The wine blends 50% Sauvignon Blanc with 50% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2028. 91-91 Pts
2022 Carbonnieux – Pessac-Léognan – Cocoa, smoke, blackberries, black cherries, tobacco leaf, and herbs create the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, silky, and soft, with a sweetness to the fruits that meshes perfectly with its lift and energy that carries through to the blackberry, currant, and earthy chocolate packed finish. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026-2045. 91-93 Pts
2022 Carbonnieux Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, green apples, tangerine, pineapple, and honey notes are packed into the perfume. Rich, oily white peaches, and yellow citrus with a drizzle of tart green apple combine to fill your palate with a touch of crushed rocks on the backend. The wine blends 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2030. 92-92 Pts
2022 ChateauOlivier – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, black plums, black cherries, flowers, and licorice permeate the nose. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is fresh, supple, creamy, and silky, with ample layers of sweet, ripe, dark fruits, cocoa, and a touch salt that comes in on the back end. The wine blends 49% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, 14.55% ABV. Drink from 2026-2040. 92-94 Pts
2022 ChateauOlivier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pineapples, white peaches, flowers, orange zest, yellow citrus and a dab of honey mesh together to produce the perfume. Creamy, sweet, and fruity, with a long, yellow and orange citrus endnote, this is quite nice from start to finish. The wine blends 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon, 13.76% ABV. The harvest took place August 18, finishing August 31, making this the earliest white wine harvest in the history of the estate. Drink from 2024-2030. 92-92 Pts
2022 Clos Marsalette – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, black fruits, and tobacco leaf form the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, elegant, creamy, fresh, and elegant, leaving you with sweet, black fruits with a touch of leafy-tobacco in the finish. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2034. 91-93 Pts
2022 Clos Marsalette Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White peach, flowers, pears, orange marmalade, white flowers, and banana from the nose. On the palate, the wine is fruity, creamy, forward, and sweet with hints of tropical notes in the finish. The wine blends 55% Sauvignon Blanc with 45% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2028. 91-91 Pts
2022 Couhins – Pessac-Léognan – Spicy tobacco leaves, black currants, flowers, chocolate, and cherries show in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, bright, fresh and spicy, with chewy tannins and a slight touch of cocoa in the finish. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. 14.5 ABV. 2022 marks the first vintage as being certified as 100% Organic. Drink from 2025-2037. 90-92 Pts
2022 Couhins Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pineapple, green apples, tea leaves, ginger, and spice create the complex set of aromatics. Creamy, fresh and fruity, with a sweet, white peach, and citrus oriented palate, along with a spicy endnote and a touch of crushed stone on the backend, this is going to be delicious on release. The wine blends 95% Sauvignon Blanc with 5% Sauvignon Gris. Drink from 2023-2032. 91-91 Pts
2022 Couhins Lurton – Pessac-Léognan – With a nose of chocolate, black cherries, figs, flowers ,and black raspberries, the wine is soft, silky, fresh and polished, with layers of sweet, ripe, but not overripe dark red fruits, spice, cocoa, and black cherries from start to finish. This should be delicious to taste on release. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 15.3% ABV, pH 3.45. Drink from 2025-2040. 92-94 Pts
2022 De-France – Pessac-Léognan – Smoky red berries, spice,, and tobacco leaves are already in evidence. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, creamy and fresh, with more of those sweet, ripe, red, tobacco-infused fruits in the savory-edged finish. This is a solid follow up to the 2020. Drink from 2025-2040. 91-93 Pts
2022 De-France Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Sweet, lemons, pomelo, crisp green apple, and a hint of orange are already delicious to drink in this fruity, creamy-textured wine. Drink from 2024-2028. 90-90 Pts
2022 Domaine de Chevalier – Pessac-Léognan – Almost opaque in color, the wine is equally dark in the nose with black cherries, black berries, black plums, licorice, Cuban cigar wrappers, smoke, burning wood and cocoa. Silky, elegant, plummy, rich and loaded with chocolate-covered, dark pit fruits, espresso and black cherries. There is intensity as well as silkiness and energy in the long finish. The wine blends 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% ABV, 3.60 pH. The harvest took place September 6 – September 28. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. Condition in the vineyards were extremely dry with only 30 MM of rain during the summer, making this the estates driest vintage in history. This is also the second 100% biodynamically farmed vintage. More importantly, bottles will feature a special label celebrating 2022 as it was Olivier Bernard’s 40th vintage at Domaine de Chevalier. Drink from 2027-2055. 96-98 Pts
2022 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Squeeze grapefruits over crushed rocks, and you get the idea of the perfume. The palate is packed with all the sweet, juicy, ripe pineapples, Granny Smith apples, tangerine skins, pomelo, and honeysuckle you could ask for. The wine provides the perfect blend of fresh, juicy citrus, sweetness, lift and creaminess. Drink this young for its youthful exuberance, or age it a few years for more secondary development. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Semillon, 13.8% ABV, 3.28 pH. The harvest took place August 26 – September 5. Drink from 2025-2037. 96-96 Pts
2022 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Green apples, lemons, and honeysuckle notes are all over the place here. On the palate, the wine is vibrant, citrusy, and creamy, with good energy in the finish. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2032. 93-93 Pts
2022 Domaine de Chevalier L’Esprit de Chevalier Rouge – Pessac-Léognan – Plums, tobacco, black cherries, spice, mint, and cocoa come through on the nose. The medium-bodied palate is silky, fresh, soft, and polished, with sweetness to the berries seemingly wrapped in cigar wrappers, with a touch of mint in the finish. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2035. 91-93 Pts
2022 Domaine de la Solitude – Pessac-Léognan – Black cherries, flowers, olives, and plums on the nose. On the medium-bodied palate you find soft, fresh, red pit fruits, soft-textures, and a creamy, fruity finish that is going to be delicious on release. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 40% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2035. 90-92 Pts
2022 Domaine de la Solitude Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Lemon curd, green apples, vanilla, pomelo, and a background note of white peach is what you find in the nose, and on the fruity, creamy, sweet, and fresh palate. The wine blends 70% Sauvignon Blanc, and 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2030. 91-91 Pts
2022 Fieuzal – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, cigar wrapper, pepper, cedar, cocoa, spice, and red with black currants open the nose. On the medium-bodied palate, initially you notice the freshness in the ripe, sweet, cherries, with their elegance, lift and purity. There is a symmetry, and vibrancy in the fruits, finishing with a shot of licorice, cocoa, and plums that stick with you. The wine blends 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. 13.2% ABV. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2025-2045. 92-94 Pts
2022 Fieuzal Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White peach, lemon curd, pineapple, orange rind, mango and honeysuckle shine in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is creamy, sweet, supple, and loaded with yellow, and orange tropical fruits. This will be great in your glass on release. The wine blends 55% Sauvignon and 45% Semillon. 12.8% ABV. Drink from 2024-2029. 91-91 Pts
2022 Haut Bailly – Pessac-Léognan – Initially, you find a display of flowers before moving on to all of its cigar wrapper, spice, blackberry, currant, black cherry, smoke, and hints of forest leaf in the perfume. Deeply concentrated, vibrant, and refined, the palate is packed with multiple-layers of perfectly, ripe, red fruits, a fabulous sense of purity, silky, soft, polished tannins, and ample lift in the finish, providing the backdrop to age, and evolve for decades. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV, pH 3.92. Picking took place September 7 – September 27. The yields were only 30 hectoliters per hectare. This is in serious contention as the best vintage ever produced at Haut Bailly. Drink from 2027-2060. 98-100 Pts
2022 Haut Bailly II – Pessac-Léognan – Cigar wrapper, mint leaf, spice, smoke, cherries, plums and cocoa pop effortlessly in the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, silky, and creamy with energy to the spicy red fruits. This is a very classy second wine with complexity, and character. This is perfect to enjoy while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. 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. 91-93 Pts
2022 Haut Bergey – Pessac-Léognan – Smoke, flowers, cherries, espresso, and tobacco initially get your attention. The wine is soft, creamy, fresh and polished. There is sweetness to the berries with notes of chocolate, and espresso accompanying the fruits in the finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2022 Haut-Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Picture walking into a flower show with a basket of fresh berries and a lit Cuban cigar, and while that is not quite PC, it is the aromatic profile here. On the palate, the wine is fresh, bright, vibrant, lifted and floral. The wine is elevated, refined, soft, and silky with a refreshing, silky edge to the fruits in the finish. The wine is pure elegance There is nothing between you and the fruits. There is intensity, length, and a striking sense of purity. The wine lingers seamlessly for 60 seconds, or longer. The wine blends 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 14.45% ABV, 3.83 pH. Harvesting took place August 29 – September 15. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare, with 50% of the harvest placed into the Grand Vin. This is not only in competition for wine of the vintage, it is one of the best vintages of Haut Brion ever produced. If you are an Haut-Brion fan with the disposable income, you cannot own enough of this future legend. Drink from 2030-2065. 98-100 Pts
2022 Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, white peach, vanilla, almonds, lemon rind, pineapple, honeysuckle and white flowers create the nose. On the palate, the wine is sweet, creamy and fresh, with orange, lemon and tart green apple nuances from start to finish. Made from a blend of 51% Semillon and 49% Sauvignon Blanc, 45% Semillon, picking took place August 17 – August 23. 14.2% ABV, 3.3 pH. Drink from 2025-2040. 96-96 Pts
2022 Haut Brion La Clarte de Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Grapefruit, green apples, pears, flowers, and lemon rind create the core of the wine. On the palate, the wine offers creamy-textured citrus, and green apples with spice, crushed stones and freshness in the finish. The wine blends 54% Semillon and 46% Semillon. 13.8% ABV, 3.29 pH. Drink from 2025-2037. 93-93 Pts
2022 Haut Brion Le Clarence de Haut-Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Cigar box, spice, burning herbs, black plums, and cherries create the nose. The wine is refined, silky and fresh, The fruits are ripe, sweet, lifted and have no problem expressing their essence on the mid-palate, and in the elegant finish, which delivers a plethora of spices and a touch of refreshing mints in the endnote. Enjoy this while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 62% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot. 14.4% ABV, 3.9 pH. Drink 2025-2045. 93-95 Pts
2022 Haut Nouchet – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, fresh finesse styled, red berry filled wine with touches of spice, espresso, cherries and cocoa that show in the nose and on the palate. The vineyards are well-placed, quite close to Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. This will provide pleasure just about on release. Drink from 2025-2037. 89-91 Pts
2022 Haut-Bacalan – Pessac-Léognan – Creamy, supple, red fruits, soft-textures, and leafy herbs form the core of the wines personality. On the palate, there is freshness, softness, and sweetness to the fruits. While you can drink this with pleasure on release, it will also age nicely for a few years as well. Drink from 2026-2040. 90-92 Pts
2022 Haut-Lagrange – Pessac-Léognan – Supple-textured, black fruits, currants, licorice, spearmint and smoked spices get the wine going. Soft, fruit-filled, sweet, and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied, creamy and already quite nice to enjoy. And it is only going to get better from here. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2022 Haut-Lagrange Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Orange peel, pomelo, green apples and white flowers create the perfume. The palate equals the aromatics with its crisp, juicy, zesty, lemon peel, filled character in the zesty finish. This should be delicious on release. Drink from 2024-2029. 91-91 Pts
2022 La Louviere – Pessac-Léognan – Deeply colored, the wine is loaded with flowers, cherries, herbs, and forest leaves. Medium-bodied, creamy, soft, and polished, the fruits are silky, fresh, and long, with layers of dark cherries, black plums, licorice, herbs, and chalk in the finish. Drink from 2025-2042 . 92-94 Pts
2022 La Louviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, and lemons in a sweet, creamy style with a nice honeysuckle, and orange accent in the waxy lemon finish Drink from 2024-2030. 92-92 Pts
2022 La-Mission-Haut-Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Deep purple in color, and the fruits are equally deep. You find blackberries, black currants, and black cherries before its nuances of smoke, cigar box, barbecue, smoked meat and roses. On the palate, there is intensity, depth of flavor, concentration, and layers of fruit. But the wine is also lifted, fresh and energetic. It is easy to taste. The finish is rich, long, vivacious, and palate-filling. The wine blends 51.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43.2% Merlot, and 5.1% Cabernet Franc, 14.15% ABV, 3.95 pH. Harvesting took place, August 29 – September 19. Yields were 28 hectoliters per hectare, making this the lowest yields since 1991 with 50% of the harvest going into the grand Vin. Drink from 2027-2055. 96-98 Pts.
2022 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Anjou pears, green apples, white flowers, honeysuckle, lemon curd, vanilla, and orange peel create the complex nose. The palate picks up where the nose leaves off with its yellow citrus, pineapple, spice, and tangerine accents. The finish balances its sweet, juicy citrus with freshness. Made from a blend of 72% Semillon and 28% Sauvignon Blanc, picking took place September 3, finishing September 10. 14.3% ABV, 3.3 pH. Drink from 2025-2040. 97-97 Pts
2022 La Mission La Chapelle de La Mission Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Loads of black, red, and deep fruits with tobacco leaves, herbs, and burning forest leaves open the wine. On the palate, the wine is even better with its smoked fruit palate, savory, spicy, sweet, dark cherries, and currants in the finish. There is a polish to the tannins, sweetness to the fruits, and smoky plushness in the finish. Enjoy it while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 55.9% Merlot, 35.4% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.4% Cabernet Franc, 13.9% ABV. 3.88 pH. Drink from 2025-2040. 94-95 Pts
2022 La-Tour-Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Deeply colored, initially you notice, dried roses, blackberries, black cherries, cocoa, pepper, and 5 spice on the nose. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is packed with layers of creamy, elegant, ripe, dark, red fruits with hints of pepper and even some cocoa that comes in at the end of the long, plummy finish. This should age quite nice well, yet be approachable young. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV, pH 3.73. Harvesting took place September 6 – September 28. Drink from 2026-2042. 93-95 Pts
2022 La-Tour-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – With little effort you find flowers, green apples, pears, pomelo, white peach, and pineapples in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is sweet, supple, soft, and fresh, with nuances of pineapple, lemon curd, spice, and orange rind. The harvest took place August 18 – August 31.The wine blends 52% Sauvignon Blanc with 48% Semillon. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2032. 93-93 Pts
2022 Larrivet Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – Smoked, cherries, strawberry, smoked meats, spearmint, and cigar smoke create the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, elegant, soft, silky and refined. The finish is loaded with sweet, red pit fruits, with chocolate-mint coming in at the end of the refined finish. The wine is made from 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot. 14% ABV, 3.71 pH. Yields were 40 hectoliters. 38% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Picking took place September 6 – September 28. It is interesting to note that Larrivet was the first known wine of the 2022 futures campaign to be offered, and it was priced at a discount to 2021! Drink from 2026-2045. 93-95 Pts
2022 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White flowers, grapefruit, spearmint, orange, mango, green apple, and pineapple show in the nose. From there you find sweet, yellow and orange citrus, pineapple, and pears from start to finish on the mid-palate through to the end note. The nose is just great with all of its pineapple, white peach, honeysuckle, mango, orange rind, and waxy lemons in the perfume. Fresh, crisp and energetic, with a bit of chalk to accompany all the yellow fruits in the finish. The wine is produced from 86% Sauvignon Blanc and 14% Semillon. 14% ABV, 3.24 pH. Drink from 2024-2028. 92-92 Pts
2022 Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc Les Demoiselles – Pessac-Léognan – Grape fruits and flowers show their essence in the nose and on the palate, with this forward, sweet, juicy white wine. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2024-2028. 90-90 Pts
2022 Larrivet Haut Brion Les Demoiselles – Pessac-Léognan – Forward, soft, elegant, easy to like, cherry and plum filled wine that is perfect to enjoy on release for all of its soft, refined fruits on the mid-palate and finish. Drink from 2025-2035. 89-91 Pts
2022 Le Thil Comte Clary – Pessac-Léognan – Smoked cherries, and chocolate, along with burning rocks and a touch of peppery mint create the nose. With an obviously darker hue than in previous vintages, the wine is round, lush, and rich, with a hint of fig that comes in on the back end, along with espresso, plums and chalky tannins. The wine was produced from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2036. 91-93 Pts
2022 Les Carmes Haut Brion – Pessac-Léognan – The first thing you notice is the black, purple hue. Next, it its the perfume with its black, blue and red fruits, incense, curry, flowers, smoke and herbs. Opulent, restrained, elegant and powerful, the wine comes in layers. You can sense the array of exotic spices, mint, blue and black fruits, crushed rocks, black cherries and white pepper on the palate. Full-bodied and dense, the wine somehow remains light on its feet. The end notes, meshing elegance and power bring everything together, as the finish crosses the 60 second mark. This is perhaps even better than the perfect, 2016! The wine was made using 70% whole bunch clusters during fermentation. From a blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot, 13.5% ABV, pH 3.6. The wine is aging in a combination of 70% new, French oak, 20% foudres and 10% amphora. Picking took place September 5 – September 22. Yields were 40 hectoliters per hectares. Drink from 2025-2050. 99-100 Pts
2022 Les Carmes HautBrion Le C Les Carmes HautBrion – Pessac-Léognan – Once past the dark color, the wine jumps with black cherries, flowers, blackberries, mint, and spearmint in the nose. On the palate the fruits are clean, fresh and pure, but not simple. You also find salt, crushed rocks, spice and peppery, sweet, black cherries on the mid-palate and in the spicy, vivacious finish. Using 30% whole bunches in the vinification, the wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV, 3.6%. The wine is aged in 20% new, French oak barrels. Drink from 2023-2033. 93-95 Pts
2022 Lespault-Martillac – Pessac-Léognan – Tobacco leaves, cedar, black cherries, smoke, and spice are what you find in the nose. The palate enjoys loads of soft, sweet, ripe, dark pit fruits with polish, lift, round, soft fruits on the mid-palate, and in the fruity finish, with a touch of cocoa in the endnotes. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2037. 91-93 Pts
2022 Lespault-Martillac Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – White peach, pineapple, mango, lemon rind, and orange pith nuances take only a single swirl to uncover. The palate is fruity, sweet, energetic and open, so you can enjoy all of its sweet, yellow, and orange citrus notes on release. The wine blends 70%, old vine, Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2032. 93-93 Pts
2022 Malartic Lagraviere – Pessac-Léognan – With a depth of color, the wine pops with nuances of flowers, cherries, cedar, tobacco leaf, black currants, spice, cocoa, and mint tea. Even better on the palate, the concentrated, showy display of spicy, black cherries, blackberries, plums, white pepper, and dark chocolate is perfectly balanced with length, freshness and creamy, silkiness in the finish. The wine is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Cabernet Franc. 14.2% ABV pH 3.58. Harvesting took place September 5 – September 29. Drink from 2026-2050. 94-96 Pts
2022 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Flowers, white chocolate, pineapple, spice, papaya, white peach, and orange scents are easy to pick up on the nose. On the palate, the wine is fresh, sweet, and fruity leaving you with creamy yellow citrus, grapefruit and white peach notes. The wine blends 76% Sauvignon Blanc with 24% Semillon. The harvest took place August 24 – September 1. 14.56% ABV, pH3.29. Drink from 2025-2032. 94-94 Pts
2022 Pape Clement – Pessac-Léognan – Dark, almost opaque in color, the wine grabs your attention with its showy display of flowers, cinnamon, chocolate, spice, tobacco, blackberries, and black cherries in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is rich, lush, sweet, deep, and intense. There is a wealth of flavor in the black cherries, white pepper, dark chocolate, and espresso on the palate. The endnote sticks for almost 50 seconds, delivering a peppery, orange rind, refreshing note in the finish. The wine blends 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14% ABV, 3.6 pH. The harvest took place September 7 – September 28. Yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2055. 96-98 Pts
2022 Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Mint, white peach, green apples, and pear aromatics open the perfume. On the palate, the wine is ripe, creamy, and focused on its wealth of sweet, yellow citrus, pineapple, white peach, and orange rind notes in the mid-palate, and in the finish. The wine blends 63% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon and 2% Muscadelle. Picking took place August 28 – September 2. Drink from 2025-2035. 95-95 Pts
2022 Pape Clement Clementin Pape Clement Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Pineapple, lemon curd, orange rind, and floral nuances open the nose, and get the palate going. The wine is sweet, and creamy on the mid-palate and finish. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2024-2028. 91-91 Pts
2022 Pape Clement Clementin de Pape Clément – Pessac-Léognan – Smoky red fruits, espresso beans, flowers, and spice blend perfectly on the nose and palate. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, forward, and easy to drink, with all of its soft-textured, red fruits, smoke, spice, and touch of cocoa that you find on the backend. You can drink this on release while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2032. 91-93 Pts
2022 Picque Caillou – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, soft, and roundly-textured, the red fruits are sweet, fresh, and forward, so you can enjoy this on release and for the next 10-12 years after release. Drink from 2025-2035. 90-92 Pts
2022 Picque Caillou Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Grapefruit, lemons, and flowers with a nice bite of green apples in a sweet, fruity, forward style that will be ready to go on release. Drink from 2024-2029. 90-90 Pts
2022 Rochemorin – Pessac-Léognan – Leafy, smoky, savory, red fruits, medium-bodied, fresh, and spicy, with a leafy and olive edge to the red fruits in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2025-2038. 89-91 Pts
2022 Rochemorin Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, yellow citrus, white peach, and candied lemons on the nose, as well as on the creamy, sweet, mineral-driven palate. Drink from 2024-2028. 90-90 Pts
2022 Seguin – Pessac-Léognan – Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh, fruity and creamy on the palate, the wine is loaded with sweet, dark currants, blackberries, smoke and coffee beans on the nose and palate. This finish is soft, vibrant, and fresh, with more of those sweet, ripe currants in the finish. Drink from 2025-2042. 91-93 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – Inky dark in color, the wine requests a bit of effort before jumping into its nose of spice, cigar wrapper, blackberries, black currants, flowers, wet earth, and smoke. On your palate, the purity in the fruit, elegance, and lift is there. But what stands out is the width in your mouth as the wine caresses every part of your palate with its silky textures, and richness. The finish seals the deal as the wine has real staying power, staying with you for over 50 seconds! Harvesting took place from September 5 – September 30. Yields were low at 28 hectoliters per hectare. The wine is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, and is aging in 60% New, French oak barrels for 18 months. 14.5% ABV. pH 3.55. Is this the best vintage of Smith Haut Lafitte ever produced? Maybe. Let’s revisit when the wine is in the bottle. Drink from 2027-2055. 98-100 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Honeysuckle, lemon rind, spice, crushed rocks, white peach, tangerine and vanilla deliver the complex aromatics. Fresh and creamy, with layers of sweet, yellow citrus, pineapple, and a breath of herbs on the backend, the wine shows promise. This is going to be simply fabulous on release. The harvest took place August 18 – September 2. The wine blends 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, and 5% Sauvignon Gris. ABV %14.5. Drink from 2025-2035. 95-95 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Haut Lafitte – Pessac-Léognan – Showing a nice depth of color, the wine exudes cigar box, cedar, mint, currants, and blackberries. Elegant, fresh, and balanced, the wine delivers its layers of sweet, ripe, black, and red fruits effortlessly. This is the finest vintage of Le Petit Haut Lafitte ever produced. It promises to drink well for at least 15 years or more. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 40% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2040. 93-95 Pts.
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Grapefruit, flowers, orange rind, and lemon peel create the nose. On the palate, the wine is creamy, forward, and ready to go with its lemon dominated fruity, mildly chalky finish. The wine is a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc, with 20% Semillon. Drink from 2024-2030. 93-93 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith – Pessac-Léognan – Tobacco, mint, currants, and cocoa create the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, silky, and lifted, with sweetness, and elegance in the finish. This is already a treat in your glass. But give it a year or two in the cellar, and it is going to be even better. The wine is a blend of 60% Merlot with 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2025-2038. 92-94 Pts
2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith Blanc – Pessac-Léognan – Waxy lemon, orange rind, white peach and tangerine with a dash of lime at the back of the nose. On the palate, the wine is sweet, fresh, and creamy, finishing with yellow, citrus rind in the endnote. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2024-2030. 92-92 Pts
2022 Graves Red and White Wines…
2022 Chantegrive – Graves – Smoky cherries and tobacco form the character of this forward, medium-bodied, elegant, soft, cocoa, leafy, dark, cherry and espresso filled wine. Drink from 2025-2032. 90-92 Pts
2022 Chantegrive Blanc – Graves – Flowers, crisp, yellow citrus and crunchy green apples create an approachable, fresh, early drinking Bordeaux blanc. Drink from 2024-2027. 90-90 Pts
2022 Clos Floridene Blanc – Graves – Zesty lemons, green apples and flowers with a hint of spice sticks with you due to all of its freshness on the mid-palate and finish. Drink from 2024-2028. 91-91 Pts
2022 Ferrande – Graves – Cherries and plums with a hint of mint and cocoa come easily in the nose and mouth. Fresh, early drinking and fruity, this is going to be enjoyable on release. Drink from 2025-2030. 89-91 Pts
2022 Ferrande Blanc – Graves – Zesty lemons and a creamy, citrusy finish that is going to be delicious on release and over the next few years. Drink from 2024-2027. 90-90 Pts
2022 Haut Selve – Graves – Medium-bodied, soft, forward, fruity and on the oaky side, this should be enjoyable on release. Drink from 2025-2030. 87-89 Pts
2022 Portets – Graves – Medium-bodied, fruity with licorice accents, soft, fresh cherries and sweet, ripe, plums in the medium-bodied finish. This is ready to go on release. Drink from 2024-2029. 89-90 Pts
2022 Rahoul – Graves – Forward, soft, elegant, fruity and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied and ready to deliver its currants and cherries with their edge of spice and herbs on release. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts
2022 Rahoul Blanc – Graves – Crips lemons and tart green apples with florality makes this sweet, fruity, creamy, citrus wine a pleasure to enjoy in its youth. Drink from 2024-2027. 90-90 Pts
2022 Respide Callipyge – Graves – Fruity and fun to taste, the black cherry core of fruits in this medium-bodied wine are sweet, ripe, juicy, soft and fresh. This will be easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2024-2030. 87-89 Pts
We are continuing with our appellation reports on 2022 Bordeaux. We will complete our look at 2022 Left Bank wines with reports with a detailed look at 2022 Haut Medoc, Listrac, Moulis and Medoc Wines. From there, we journey over to the Right Bank with notes and scores for all the best 2022 Pomerol before moving to 2022 St. Emilion.
