Château La Croix de Gay 2022

Plum, herbs, black tea, roasted notes; on the palate it’s approachable, rounded, with a slightly creamy texture, marked yet fine tannins that wrap around the fruit; a red-fruited, spicy finish. Well done!

Herbal touches on the nose with vanilla, soft cedar spice and dark blackcurrants. Tannins are quite prominent, filling the mouth with a grippy texture, but it stays nice and cool with soft liquorice, aniseed and cola elements. Fleshy yet lively too – not the most finessed or complex wine, but it delivers a lovely broad frame that leans into the vintage in terms of concentration and spice, lifted by minty freshness and juicy strawberry acidity. It has relaxed since the Primeurs and should be ready to drink in a few more years.

Blackberry, blueberry and sandalwood aromas follow through to a medium body with a solid core of fruit and tannins that are integrated and very fine. It goes on for minutes. Extremely well done for the vintage. Traditional Pomerol with depth. Drink after 2029.

The 2022 La Croix de Gay has a fresh, more marine-influenced bouquet, much more classical in style in the context of the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, gentle grip, a seam of dark chocolate that then overrides the finish and leaves it feeling rather monotone. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Medium-bodied, soft, silky, and fresh, the finish could be longer, but that's only because I like all the sweet, ripe, lifted, red fruits topped off with cocoa, licorice, and smoke here. This will drink well on release. Drink from 2025-2038.

Dark ruby garnet colour with an opaque core and purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Candied orange zest, dark wild berries, a touch of overripeness, hints of dried figs in the background. Juicy, textured, sweet nougat, hints of prunes, salty nuances, a more opulent style, chocolatey on the finish, a versatile food wine for spicy dishes and BBQs.

Plums, black cherries, sappy flowers, and chocolaty nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château La Croix De Gay, a charming, round, nicely textured, medium to full-bodied Pomerol. It has juicy acidity, the ripe, upfront style of the vintage, and a great finish. A blend of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years.

Spicy, rich, plenty of fruit, fleshy with spiced cloves, orange peel, raspberry and damson. 50% new oak, 25hl/ha yield, low even for the vintage, clay-gravel soils with clay subsoils.

Deep, intense, vibrant color. Highly aromatic nose with ripe fruit, truffle notes and a slight toastiness. On the palate, an elegantly smooth, tactile softness where everything glides, caresses and charms. A long, slender profile suggesting the presence of gravelly soils. A different, inviting wine, driven more by flavor than by structure. And here, aromas that surge back powerfully on the finish, moving and uplifting, raising the score. A wonderful Outsider sharing the same score as the 1955. Bravo!