Château Faugères 2022

Herb-spiced and floral, violets, cherries, blackberries, mocha; compact palate, crisp fruit, noticeable yet well-integrated oak, red-fruited, spicy, pleasantly long-lasting, slightly bitter, yet pleasantly fresh. Needs some time to mature.

An engaging red, with expressive notes of raspberry and red currant preserves carrying a sparkle of anise and rose hip that adds a lingering freshness to the sleek finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2036. 11,450 cases made.

Dried herbs and raisined fruit on the nose—extremely ripe and intense, with tobacco and clear oak aromas too. Thick and sweet on the palate, the fruit is clearly ripe; it feels a bit pushed and over-oaked, but there’s also an incongruous high acidity that sticks out and doesn’t feel totally harmonious right now. Ends fleshy and chalky. Lacks some nuance and balance to be more enjoyable.

This is a rich wine, but there is freshness and brightness with creamy tannins, crushed stones and Spanish cedar. Blueberries. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s exuberant and lively. 70% merlot, 25% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon. Hard not to drink now but better in two or three years.

70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Very big property for Saint-Émilion: 42 ha! Cask sample. Mid crimson. Juicy, ripe but non-exaggerated fruit on the nose. Solid, concentrated fruit that lacks a little lift but ticks the boxes for a modern wine from this appellation without – just – too much obvious alcohol. Finish is a bit stringy and there’s a slight lack of juice. (JR)

Sweet, lush, opulent, and silky, the wine is hedonistic and sexy. Medium to full-bodied, with length and, as I mentioned, sexy textures, you can enjoy this on release, or age it for a few years for more earthy complexity. This is substantially better after its aging, blending 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2027–2040.

Deep ruby, inky, an opaque core, purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Ripe cherries, black forest berries, liquorice and orange zest, light nougat. Deep, complex, muscular, delicately spiced style, fine acidity, chocolatey with a blueberry finish; a seductive and robust wine.

The 2022 Château Faugères offers both red and black fruit as well as notes of tobacco, spice, and flowers. Beautifully balanced, it has sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a round, lush mouthfeel. It’s a beautiful wine with depth and elegance, as well as 15+ years of overall longevity.

70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36 hl/ha. Intensely blueberry-scented bouquet, blueberry jelly, intoxicating violet perfume, tarragon and light tobacco. On the straight palate with a soft texture, sandy extract, delicate crunchy notes underneath, medium body. In the focused finish, the St.-Émilion streamlines, dark graphite and plum skin.

High grilled sandalwood and clove oak imprint, balanced by orange peel, damson, graphite, with a fresh lift on the finish. Intense and concentrated, plenty of estate signature with a limestone fingerprint. 40ha vineyard, 36hl/ha yield, 36% new oak for ageing, harvest September 5-27. Silvio Denz owner.