Our Fine Wine team are out in Bordeaux for en primeur – follow their updates from each day of tasting, and some of their wine highlights of the vintage...

Since their first mention at Château Lafite this morning, ‘freshness’ and ‘balance’ have been the key words of the day. This may come as a surprise considering the heat of the vintage, even the winemaking teams were taken aback by the quality on show in 2022. Few could have predicted just how good these wines would be – the hard work in both vineyard and winery has truly paid off.

We went into today, our first day of tasting, with high expectations having heard many a positive rumination from visiting Bordelais, and it’s safe to say we have not been disappointed.

It truly is a challenge to pick out a favourite visit from what has been an outstanding day of tasting. However, special mention must go to the Barons de Rothschild stable, where each wine shows beautiful individuality including a Petit Mouton that would easily stand up to many vintages of the Grand Vin, and a generous, opulent Clerc Milon that is sure to reward anyone that adds it to their cellar. Montrose, which is showing so much energy and brightness with a beautifully integrated tannic structure, along with the extremely exciting Tronquoy with its new label and superb balance of freshness and power. Grand Puy Lacoste have also made a triumphant pair of wines, with a wonderfully fruit forward and vibrant Lacoste Borie, and what is likely to be one of the best Grand Vins they’ve ever made, chapeau!

It’s safe to say we are very excited to see what’s in store over the next few days of tasting, it will be hard to beat today.

Tasting highlights

Alex Turnbull, Private Sales Manager.

While 2022 will be remembered throughout Europe for being a hot vintage, Bordeaux has learned much since 2003, and the vintages bear almost no resemblance to one another. 2022 can immediately be characterised by freshness and balance. Across the board quality is high, and where estates have produced arguably their best Grand Vins ever, the baby wines are just as impressive. This is a vintage that will immediately impress, but has the acidity and structure to last decades. Buy broadly and deeply, your future self will thank you.

Some personal highlights – Montrose are about to unveil brand new packaging and labelling for Tronquoy Lalande, which becomes Tronquoy, and the 2022 is a belter. Château Montrose was my wine of the day; a towering achievement. This is a wine of supreme finesse which will rival the greatest vintages ever produced, of that I am sure. 

Grand Puy Lacoste has also made two beautiful wines in Lacoste Borie and their Grand Vin. The smiles on the faces of the Borie family tell all; this is a vintage they should be supremely proud of. Buy Lacoste Borie while you wait for your Grand Puy Lacoste to come in to its drinking window, both wines are stunning.

Finally, Mouton have produced the finest stable of wines that I can remember in my ten years of tasting En Primeur. Aile d’Argent was my white wine of the day, and I suspect will rival wines at 2-3 times the price. Pastourelles de Clerc, thankfully being released En Primeur again, is going to represent stunning value for money. Clerc was served before d’Armailhac, which shows just how serious d’Armailhac is in 2022. And Petit Mouton is barely Petit. It could pass for Grand Vin. And then Mouton itself, I am convinced it will go down as one of the greats. It’s a majestic, regal Mouton that every true collector needs in their cellar for it will not disappoint. Buy, buy, buy. 

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