- Jancis Robinson MW and James Lawther MW reviewed the 2022 Bordeaux vintage.
- Both critics found the reds to be extremely impressive, with surprising freshness.
- Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Cheval Blanc and Pétrus received the highest scores.
Jancis Robinson MW and James Lawther MW reviewed the 2022 Bordeaux vintage and released a series of articles, covering the whites, red-bank and left-bank reds.
Both critics found the wines to be ‘extremely impressive’, with ‘amazing freshness’ given the hot and dry growing season.
In terms of the En Primeur tastings, Jancis remarked on the ‘record number of visitors’, with ‘Americans and Asians back in force’. According to her, the numbers at the UGC tastings were ‘even higher than in spring 2019, when the 2018 vintage was presented almost a year before pandemic lockdowns’.
This gives greater confidence in the success of the En Primeur campaign, which commenced last week.
Left-bank reds
According to the report, the 2022 harvest was the earliest on record, with most of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot on the left bank picked before the end of September. Despite the early harvest, the grapes’ maturity reached optimal levels. The sugar levels were similar to those found in recent years, while the phenolic ripeness was comparable to or even higher than previous vintages.
Alcohol levels on the left bank were on the high side, with 14% to 14.5% being a regular occurrence. However, the wines were often balanced with freshness.
Lawther wrote that he ‘found the characteristics of most of the appellations respected’, with Margaux being more varied.
Right-bank reds
According to Robinson, Merlot did exceptionally well in 2022, with high sugar levels, deep color and ‘no shortage of tannins for a long life lurking below the alluring surface’.
Lawther also proclaimed the grape variety to be ‘the star of the vintage’. He added that ‘Cabernet Franc was also successful on the right bank in 2022 adding colour, floral fragrance, freshness and length’. The critic claimed that ‘combined with Merlot it has produced some stunning wines, even away from the limestone plateau – witness Cheval Blanc, one of the wines of the vintage’.
White wines
The hot and dry growing season led to lower acidity levels in the whites, which translated to lack of freshness in some. Robinson further revealed that Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon were picked earlier than ever before since Bordeaux University records began. Domaine de Chevalier Blanc stood out among the dry whites, while Château Suduiraut received the highest score of 18+ points among the Sauternes.
Top-scoring wines
The First Growth Château Mouton Rothschild topped the list of the highest-scoring wines from the 2022 vintage. Lawther described the palate as ‘truly amazing’ and questioned if this isn’t ‘a modern 1986’.
Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Cheval Blanc and Pétrus followed with 18.5-points.
So far, Lafite and Cheval Blanc have been two of the favourite wines of major critics, also boasting potential 100-points from Jeff Leve, Jean-Marc Quarin, and James Suckling.
WineCap’s independent market analysis showcases the value of portfolio diversification and the stability offered by investing in wine. Speak to one of our wine investment experts and start building your portfolio. Schedule your free consultation today.