Chateau Saint Pierre 2022

JEB DUNNUCK: "A real "wow" wine in the making, the 2022 Château Saint-Pierre (Saint-Julien) checks in as 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. This darker, powerful wine offers up loads of pure cassis and black cherry-like fruits as well as ample chocolate, graphite, and lead pencil nuances. Full-bodied, concentrated, and structured, it nevertheless stays pure, impeccably balanced, and shows a real sense of elegance. The alcohol here is 13.9% and the élevage is in 48% new French oak. Tasted twice with consistent notes."

WEINWISSER: "80 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 % Merlot, 6 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot, 13.9 Vol.-%, 34 hl/ha. Tiefgründiges Bouquet, frisch gepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, dunkles Edelholz, Veilchen und Holundergelee. Am komplexen, durchtrainierten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, balancierter Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und edlem mineralischen Kern. Im konzentrierten, langanhaltenden Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, tiefschürfende Terroirwürze und erhabene Adstringenz. Fast auf dem gleichen Niveau wie 2020, 2019 und 2018. Bravo! 2030 – 2055."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Concentrated, lush, deep, ripe, full, and intense, the fruits are elegant, creamy, ripe, and polished. There is a purity to the fruits, and a sensuality to the texture that really works here this year. The wine blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. 13.9% ABV. Drink from 2025-2045."

VINUM: "Leichte Reduktion, die aber rasch verschwindet, wirkt höchstens etwas verschlossener als andere Weine in dieser Phase; im Mund von besonderer Rasse und enormer Tiefe, Klassetannin, sehr langer, überraschend fruchtiger Ausklang; grosser Saint Pierre."

DECANTER: "Smells dark and deep; dark chocolate, savoury liquorice spice and ripe fruit. Joyously fruity and juicy on the palate with a salty tang that really carries the freshness and sense of minerality. I love the frame and the flavour with intensely grippy tannins but it works, excellently presented with flow and movement, direction and finesse. Cool and classic with great mineral markers of salt, liquorice and crushed stones. Feels sophisticated and really compelling, a great surprise and top buy. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Harvest 12-26 September. Yield of 34hl/ha."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A particular success for this estate, the 2022 Saint-Pierre offers up aromas of cassis, licorice and violets, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's lively and sapid, with powdery structuring tannins and a penetrating finish. Its tannic weight tempers the wine's sweetness of fruit to deliver a classy, nicely balanced result."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Dark and reserved. Palate generous but structured, the tannins firm but fine and long. Good persistence. Should make old bones."