Château Corbin 2022

Gorgeous nose of ripe raspberries, floral notes, freshly chopped herbs, clear and pure like a mountain stream; balanced and crisp on the palate, perfectly ripe tannins supporting the fruit, excellent harmony of all elements, very good length. A hit, bravo!

This is lush in feel without being heavy, offering warmed cassis and plum sauce notes inlaid gently with violet, anise and sanguine threads. The toasted finish has enough grace to let the fruit take the lead. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2035. 6,625 cases made, 387 cases imported.

A calm and collected take on 2022, this has a lovely texture and frame, not too rich or too full but giving ripe and fragrant blackcurrant and plum with lots of salty stones and sticky liquorice. Oak is excellently integrated and this has a generous but controlled feel. Not as high acidity as some, meaning this isn't super vibrant, but it's well presented and easy to like.

Fragrant nose of raspberries, flowers and cherries on the nose. It’s fruit-forward, youthful and delightful with medium body and a swathe of fresh berry fruit, framed by sleek tannins. Drink from 2027.

Cask sample. Deep crimson. Sweet and fragrant. Rather soft and easy. A charmer for the short term. (JR)

The 2022 Corbin is all finesse. That's all there is to it. Gracious and aromatically lifted, with fine tannins and exquisite length, the 2022 dazzles with its sheer elegance. All the elements are so well balanced. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and menthol are some of the notes that grace this superb Saint-Émilion.

All it takes is the initial sniff, and sip before you're hooked. If the nose, with its flowers, licorice, red pit fruits, and marine influences doesn't move you, the palate, with its silky freshness, creamy, sexy tannins, and perfectly ripe, sweet fruits is going to get you. The proprietor, Anabelle Cruse, says this is the best vintage she has ever produced. And she is right! Bravo! The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025–2042.

Dark purple core and hue. Some new oak and dry spices paired with fresh dark fruit and violet notes. Dense and concentrated with a bright freshness, layers of crunchy dark fruit, long and lingering finish with a fine spiciness.

90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Playful Burgundian bouquet. Freshly picked red cherries, raspberry juice, delicate violet perfume and blueberry jelly. On the compact palate, silky in texture, with a supportive, racy freshness, tightly woven tannins and medium body. The focused, finely aromatic finish shows cranberry purée, tarragon and a finely crumbly astringency.

Vibrant violet colour, intense with sappy acidity and firm tannins, bright fruits, some slightly bitter finish, but this has sleek depths, with estate and vintage signature, and is one to look out for. 100% first wine.

An inviting nose of wild, ripe, exuberant, sweet fruits, lifted by a subtle animal note. The palate is fresh and vibrant, silky, built around a core of opulent fruit that gains intensity toward the finish. A highly satisfying, indulgent wine.

What energy and freshness in the bouquet of Corbin 2022! As usual, it needs time and aeration to reveal its excellent potential. The silky character of the attack paves the way for a great wine that shows a serenity as convincing as it is impressive! The tannins provide vigor and potential, together with a structuring, mouthwatering acidity. A truly great Château Corbin, full of character, that can be enjoyed in its youth and also boasts excellent potential.

Dark, beautiful purple colour. Very aromatic nose—delicate, fruity, ripe, pure and spicy. It develops floral and subtle notes in the glass. The palate is a delightful surprise, with velvety texture, juicy character and meticulous craftsmanship captivating the senses. The body melts into a long finish with fine, fragrant grain. After the 2017 frost and from 2020 onward, Anabelle Bardinet changed everything. Preference is given to trusting her grapes. As a result, tactile and aromatic nuances have emerged that were previously absent. Blend: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 14% – pH: 3.65. Yield: 48 hl/ha.

The 2022 Corbin has turned out beautifully, offering up sweet aromas of dark berries and plums mingled with hints of licorice, bay leaf and iris. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's velvety and enveloping, with the suave, polished profile typical of this sector, married with an unusual dimension of power and volume.