Château Joanin Bécot 2022

Open, seductive, fresh, red cherries, blood oranges, cassis, chalky minerality; round, approachable palate, sweet fruit core, chalky tannins, very good length, chalky-mineral finish. A very high-quality wine.

A fresh, direct style, with light sanguine and cedar accents gently framing a core of red currant and bitter cherry coulis flavors. The sleek finish makes this approachable now. Delicious. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2033. 5,830 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.

Full and fruity nose, expressive and ripe, nicely perfumed and expressive. Clean and clear on the palate, extremely mineral, with graphite, pencil lead and flint stone notes alongside clear blue fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants and some red summer berries. Super smooth in terms of texture but also quite lean in terms of fruit flavour, this has bite and tang, a touch austere but also really quite juicy and floral too. Needs a bit of time, but feels precise and focused with grip and intensity. I like the fruitiness, really quite upfront while keeping liveliness and energy. Succulent with nicely sweet touches and juicy acidity. Easy enjoyment, plush, mineral, all in balance. pH 3.6. 12% press wine. A yield of 39 hl/ha.

80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Livelier and more fragrant than in the past. Juicy fruit backed by firm but ripe tannins, the finish fresh. (JL)

The 2022 Joanin-Bécot is a bold, heady wine that has really closed down post-bottling. There's a bit of density and power, but not the raciness that I saw in barrel. Some of that may be attributable to the late bottling. But we will see.

Seductive on the palate with its layers of perfectly ripe black plums, black cherries, licorice, and chocolate. The long, expansive finish seals the deal with its lift, energy, and a hint of salt on the back end. The wine is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Some of the vines used here date back to 1870! Drink from 2025–2038.

I loved the 2022 Château Joanin Bécot, a juicy, lively, nicely balanced Castillon with perfumed red fruits as well as the region’s classic mineral and floral nuances. It’s medium-bodied, has integrated acidity, and a great finish. The blend is 80/20 Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the cooler, limestone Castillon area east of Saint-Emilion, and this beauty will drink well for 10–15 years if well stored. Readers could do much worse than a case of this in the cellar.

Brambled berry fruit, hawthorn and pumice stone, this has an enjoyable texture on the attack, then gives way to sweet damson purée and crème de cassis fruit. Luscious, almost ready to drink, it closes in on the finish as the acidity drops. 35 hl/ha yield, 50% new oak. Harvest from 15 to 25 September. Owner: Juliette Bécot.

A nose of ripe purple fruits and rose petals that evolves into a sumptuous palate, with velvety, juicy tannins that coat the mouth, finishing on notes of coffee beans.

The challenge in 2022 is to let the terroir shine through. Of course, we know it will emerge sooner or later, but the earlier it shows, the better for the wine’s identity. The 2022 vintage is well framed. It’s not the one calling the shots; it’s Joanin Bécot who, naturally, makes the most of the present charm while delivering temperament, with silky tannins. These provide solid support and lend a tonic edge to the finish. A sapid, flavorful and assertive wine.

Purplish red color. Very aromatic nose, fruity, fresh and pure; a smooth palate with a melting texture, sparkling with fruit mid-palate through to the finish, where it shows refined grain. It's good. Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol: 15% - pH: 3.6. Yield: 39 hl/ha.