Château Lespault-Martillac 2022

Clearly marked by barrique, with roasted notes, tobacco, smoke, dark berry fruit; a soft attack, noticeable wood tannins, a sweet fruit core behind, yet it finishes somewhat too bitter and drying. At the upper limit of extraction.

A lively version, with a mix of red currant, bitter cherry, singed cedar, savory and tar notes that streak through in unison. Shows cut and focus on the grippy finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2036. 2,200 cases made.

Sweet exotic spices on the nose with raspberries and red cherries. Focused and fresh, really clean and clear with super-high acidity that gives this a real zing. It's not as full or long as some, but this delivers a really straight and focused expression with grip and character. Cool blueberries, fresh mint, aniseed and touches of clove give the spice and add an extra element of complexity. Ends long with a menthol kick.

Spice with some iodine in addition to burnt oranges and dark fruits such as plums. Medium-bodied, this has velvety and firm tannins that give length and intensity. Needs three or four years to soften and come together. Drink after 2028.

The 2022 Lespault-Martillac is an elegant, restrained wine. Black cherry, new leather, licorice, dried flowers and a touch of new oak all meld together in this soft, supple Pessac-Léognan. This is very nicely done. It fleshes out beautifully on the mid-palate and into the finish.

Espresso, licorice, dried flowers, cigar wrappers and black currants build the nose. The palate enjoys loads of soft, sweet, ripe, dark pit fruits with polish, lift, roundness, and energy that linger, leaving you with a hint of cocoa and mint in the endnotes. The wine blends 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2027–2040.

Red and black fruits, spicy wood, and savory, floral, tobacco-like nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château Lespault-Martillac, a pretty, medium-bodied Pessac that has sweet, integrated tannins, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. I love it today, yet it should have a solid 15+ years of prime drinking ahead of it. The 2022 is 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged 18 months in 35% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels.

Attractive aromatics bring you seamlessly into the body of the wine. This is a Pessac that flies under the radar, but it's the same team as Domaine de Chevalier, and it's a real insider's Left Bank, one to look out for in the vintage. Damson and black cherry fruit, ripe but measured, as is the case across the whole stable. Good stuff, a value pick.

A sensual, deep nose marked by ink and dark fruits. On the palate, the wine is self-assured and precise, revealing imposing tannins, followed by a saline finish.

Beautiful deep dark red and purple. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Complex nuances. Broad throughout, with classy texture; this wine keeps melting on the palate—tasty, fragrant, long, and downright delicious. Blend: 65% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 5% petit verdot. Alcohol: 13.8% - pH: 3.67.

This wine opens with vibrant freshness, followed by a structured mid-palate where a subtle touch of bitterness frames the small dark fruits. The aromatic expression is enhanced by the gravelly soils typical of Pessac-Léognan, bringing depth and balance despite the sunny climate.

The black coffee aroma and the dense berry and plum fruits are a sign of a rich, concentrated wine. It is solid, full of fruit and balanced acidity. The wine comes from an estate managed by the Bernard family of Domaine de Chevalier. Drink from 2028.