The 2022 en primeur campaign enters a new phase this morning with the release of the legendary First Growth Château Lafite-Rothschild. Lafite is seen by many as the “first" of the First Growth Bordeaux. It was purchased in 1865 by Baron James de Rothschild, the head of the French branch of the Rothschild family, who passed away just three months after purchasing Lafite. The estate was inherited by his three sons: Alphonse, Gustave and Edmond, and so began a dynasty that continues to this day, with Lafite remaining at the pinnacle of the Bordeaux wine elite. Treated by many as a blue-chip commodity, Lafite is an unbelievably good wine to drink, more than worthy of its lofty status - no-one will ever forget the first, or the last, time that they had the pleasure of drinking it! We were blown away by the shear class and purity of Lafite this year, packed with so much expression already - it's going to be stunning. Allocations are always very tight for Lafite and as always we are expecting very high demand.
We are delighted to offer what will unquestionably be one of the most sought after 2022s, Château Montrose. The famous St Estephe 2nd Growth consistently produces one of the wines of any given vintage and when hitting top form, it has been known to even outperform the First Growths. We were very genuinely taken aback when we tasted the 2022 at the Chateau in April. The wine showed beautiful purity and finesse and when you compare the price to the 1990, it certainly makes sense to stock up now. This one definitely deserves a place in your cellar - stock is very limited!
Under the stewardship of the late Denis Durantou, Château L’Eglise Clinet reached the pinnacle of Pomerol's estates with consistently stunning wines. Durantou had been making wine here since 1982, although his family had owned land in Pomerol since 1785. Denis sadly passed away in May 2020, aged only 62. He wasn't one for travelling the world over to promote his brand, and avoided courting Robert Parker in the years when Bordeaux went heavily into new oak. He very much believed in being present in the vineyards on a daily basis, and focusing on the idea of terroir and small plots - L'Eglise Clinet itself is only 4.5 hectares. To quote Denis, "What lasts is the lieu-dit (vineyard plot) and the terroir, and this is what we need to defend, like in Burgundy. Napa is moving towards this, Barolo also – promoting this link between wine and its terroir." Noëmie Durantou has done an incredible job taking over the estate after the loss of her father, as demonstrated by the exceptional 2022, which is very limited.
Finally we are pleased to be able to offer another limited quantity of the red-hot contender for wine of the vintage, the 99-100pt Carmes Haut Brion. Our first offering sold out within hours, so be quick if you missed it the first time around…!
Don't miss this opportunity to secure your stock at the opening prices.
Our 2022 Bordeaux Vintage Report is now available, and as always, our 2022 Futures Landing Page is updated with the new releases each day, and includes our Wines of the Vintage, Standout Mid-Range Wines, Over-Achievers and Value Drinkers. We'll continue sending offers on the most compelling wines as they are released...stay tuned!
"2022 is certainly the greatest overall vintage I have ever tasted." - Andy Lench of Bordeaux Wine Locators on his 37th vintage tasted en primeur.
"This is the 40th year I have tasted barrel samples in Bordeaux, but I have never come across anything like the 2022 vintage. It was one of the hottest and driest growing seasons in the history of France’s most famous wine region, yet it produced thousands of opulent and structured but still fresh and balanced wines. They are exciting...it was a joyous and fascinating experience to taste so many special wines. And there was high quality from top to bottom. The 2022 vintage really is something unique." - James Suckling
2022 Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac)
GVWM Wine of the Vintage
99-100 JS / 98-100 WI / 97-99 JD / 98 DE / 96-98 VM / 97 JA / 95-97 WA
The 2022 Château Lafite-Rothschild is based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that was harvested between the 31st of August and the 24th of September. It's a richer, more opulent wine compared to the more classic 2020 (although the pH is higher in the 2020) and has a deep, full-bodied, concentrated profile as well as classic Lafite aromatics of spicy red and black fruits, freshly sharpened pencils, graphite, and tobacco. Deep, rich, and concentrated, it nevertheless stays pure and flawlessly balanced, with ample, ripe tannins and a great finish. It's going to have some up-front appeal by Lafite standards but should still require a decade of bottle age. Director Eric Koher compares this to the 2005, but this modern-day clone of the 1959 is one of the most powerful, concentrated Lafites I've tasted. - Jeb Dunnuck
$782.39 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of Lafite Rothschild >
2022 Montrose (Saint Estephe)
GVWM Wine of the Vintage
99-100 WA / 98-100 JD / 98-100 WI / 97-98 JS / 96-98 VM / 97 JA / 97 DE
The 2022 Montrose is such a compelling wine that assigning it a bracketed score seems a mere formality. A brilliant terroir, impeccable viticulture, perfectly timed harvest dates and judicious extraction have aligned to deliver a monument in the making, reminiscent of a far purer, more precise, modern-day version of the 1990 vintage at this address. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cassis, violets, iris, pencil lead and cigar wrapper, it's full-bodied, deep and authoritative, its velvety attack segueing into a layered, elegantly muscular core that's framed by supple, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, resonant finish. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this only confirms Montrose's status as a de facto first growth and unquestionably one of the contemporary Médoc's very greatest estates. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
$230.69 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of Montrose >
2022 L'Eglise Clinet (Pomerol)
98-100 VM / 98 JA / 97-98 JS / 96-98+ JD / 96-98 WA / 96-98 WI / 97 DE
The 2022 L'Eglise-Clinet was picked from 3 to 9 September for the Merlot and the Cabernet Franc on 5 and 9 September, matured in 85% new oak. It has an exquisitely defined bouquet with succinct floral, pressed iris and clay notes percolating through the black fruit. With breathtaking focus, these scents seem to cast a spell over you. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins that frame the mineralladen, peppery black fruit. There's not a hair out of place, exuding the essence of this Pomerol estate with an exceptionally long, intense and paradoxically tender finish. It's a wine that may leave you spellbound...just like this barrel sample. - Neal Martin - Vinous Media
$356.98 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of L'Eglise Clinet >
2022 Carmes Haut Brion (Pessac Leognan)
GVWM Wine of the Vintage & Over-Achiever
99-100 WA / 98-100 VM / 98-100 JD / 97-99 WI / 97-98 JS / 98 DE / 96 JA
The remarkable 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. It's also one of the most singular, characterful wines being produced in the region today. Unfurling in the glass with complex aromas of blackberries and cherries mingled with notions of exotic spices, orange zest, pencil lead, rose petals and vine smoke, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a velvety attack that segues into a layered, seamless and multidimensional mid-palate framed by rich, powdery tannins. Pure, perfumed and penetrating, this blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot is a brilliant success that caps a decade of relentless work by Guillaume Pouthier and his team that have seen Les Carmes Haut-Brion emerge as one of Bordeaux's leading estates. It checks in at a mere 13.5% alcohol, with a very healthy pH of 3.64. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
$199.97 ea. 750ml | Future | BUY NOW
See our full list of Carmes Haut Brion >
2% discount for orders placed with a wire or personal check.*
Please click here to send us your order via our contact page, or call 360.350.4896 and we will be glad to assist you. (*Minimum order of $1000 for domestic wire, or $5000 for international wire. No minimum for personal check. For wines eligible for 5% case/9L discounts, maximum discount is 5%.)
Interested in a wine not on our website, or in placing a non-committed pre-order for particular 2022 Bordeaux? Click here to send us your list and we will advise as soon as the wines are available.
BOTTLING CHARGES FOR OTHER FORMATS Please note: Most Chateaux will be able to bottle your orders in the below formats. Click here or call +360.350.4896 if you are interested in any of the following options and they are not listed on our website:
375 ML - 12 x 750ml price + $40.00 per case (min. order of 12 x 375ml)
1.5 L - 12 x 750ml price + $36 per case (min. order of 6 x 1.5L)
3.0 L - 4 x 750ml price + $70 each | 6.0 L - 8 x 750ml price + $110 each
9.0 L - 12 x 750ml price + $180 each | 12.0 L - 16 x 750ml price + $210 each
15.0 L - 24 x 750ml price + $275 each | 18.0 L - 20 x 750ml price + $325 each
|
Grand Vin Wine Merchants · 2950 32nd Ave SW · Suite A · Tumwater, Washington 98512 · United States (360) 350-4896
|
|
|
