Château Barde-Haut 2022

The 2022 Barde-Haut is stellar. A rich, heady wine, the 2022 offers up copious blue/purplish fruit, licorice, lavender, chocolate and incense. Layered and beautifully resonant in the glass, Barde-Haut exudes class and personality.

Oceanic salts, truffles, smoke, flowers, licorice, and dark, red pit fruits show in the nose with a single swirl. The palate, with its layers of elegant, silky-textured fruits, expresses a beautiful sense of purity to the fruits from the mid-palate through to the finish. The lingering endnotes serve up ample freshness, length, and a refreshing, minty charm that entices you to take another sniff and sip to experience it all over again. This is the best vintage of Barde Haut ever produced! Bravo!!! The wine blends 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2050.

The 2022 Château Barde-Haut checks in as the usual blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 50% to 60% new barrels, with the balance in once- and twice-used barrels, with a small amount in tank. Gorgeous black raspberries, blue fruits, smoky tobacco, violets, and crushed stone define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a silky, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s not far off the style of the 2020 (and 2010), and is a rocking little Saint-Emilion to enjoy over the coming 20+ years.

Inky colour, clear floral aromatics, this is charming and enticing, with polish and finesse. Love the confident grip of the tannins, that hold the fruit but know just when to let go and let the creamy blueberry and damson fruits expand across the palate. 55% new oak, a reduction from levels in the past, and the subtle smoked cedar character is well judged. pH 3.45.

What intensity, depth and complexity in this bouquet, revealing nuances of licorice, peony, black berries, graphite and, as it opens up, a hint of mint. On the palate, the wine impresses with its density and character. The tannins are tight, providing backbone and delivering not only power but also an energetic edge. The structure underpins the freshness and mouthwatering finish. This is an exceptional Barde-Haut—incisive, powerful and persistent. A great success… it will simply require patience!

A lovely deep colour. A highly aromatic nose with ripe fruit. A sunny touch. The palate is deliciously supple, with brightness through the mid-palate and a velvety body as rarely seen before. The finish could make you think of the south, but without any angular tannins. Very good. A remarkable point: no second wine on this terroir. That says a lot about the dedication!