Château Picque Caillou 2022

Expressive and fresh, with clear, pure fruit, herbal-spicy notes, rosemary, and chalky minerality; a straight, very fresh palate, remarkably well structured, crisp and juicy, with grainy tannins and fine acidity; very well balanced, full of character, with verve and bite. A lot of wine for the money!

Notes of chocolate, licorice, dark berries and tobacco preface the 2022 Picque-Caillou, a medium to full-bodied, rather firm and compact wine with structured tannins, good depth at the core and a long, pencil lead–inflected finish.

A dark red, with a mulled edge to its black currant and black cherry fruit, this shows streaks of tar, alder and bay leaf. The long, fine-grained finish is focused, with an iron note lingering at the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2037. 5,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

A deep, seductive nose full of blackcurrant fruit with dried spices and soft floral accents. Definitely juicy but also very full on the palate with fleshy, chewy and chalky tannins filling the mouth, creating an impression of muscle and strength. It's a little intense in terms of tannic heft but settles quite quickly with blueberries and cola on the finish. Doesn't feel over-extracted or too spiced, so once the tannins relax this will be very enjoyable.

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Deep, glowing blackish crimson. Sappy, appetising nose. Lots of energy and ripe (but not too ripe) fruit here and then some dry tannins. Acidity is well integrated and this should give a lot of pleasure. Very Graves. Positively juicy with a mineral/stony finish. Very fresh with some density. This is the best Picque Caillou I can remember. (JR)

Medium-bodied, soft, and roundly textured, the red fruits are sweet, fresh, and forward, so you can enjoy this on release and for the next 10-12 years after release. Drink from 2025-2035. 90-92 pts.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections. Brightening on the rim. Delicately floral, candied violets, plums, ripe cherries, a hint of nougat. Juicy and elegant, cherries and chocolate, subtle acidity, a nicely textured food wine.

The 2022 Château Picque Caillou is a pretty, elegant wine based on 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Ripe black cherries, flowery incense, graphite, and spicy nuances all define the nose, and it's medium-bodied, has a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and outstanding length.

There is good fruit here, blueberry and blackberry nicely brambled, but soft on the finish, no real lift. A little underwhelming honestly, compared to many in the appellation. 40% new oak for ageing, 18ha estate owned by Isabelle and Paulin Calvet.

Beneath a veneer of modesty, the nose reveals very fresh fruit aromas before unfurling juicy, indulgent notes, lightly seasoned with a pinch of smoked Penja pepper. The palate shows plenty of flesh, lifted by refreshing acidity. A slight hard edge appears on the finish, quickly smoothed out by a rounder aftertaste.

Darker than ever in color. A moderately aromatic nose with ripe fruit and a subtle menthol note. The palate is delicately fleshy, developing with fragrance and flavor, carried by a straight frame with very well-wrapped tannins. Normal length. Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 14% ABV.

92-94 Barrel sample. Initially, the wine is lean, but it has a reserve of black-currant flavors to bring freshness and density to the wine. The structure is already an important element.