Clos De Sarpe 2022 (750ML)

96-98 JD / 94-96 VM / 94-95 JS / 93-95 WA / 93-95 WI

Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château Clos De Sarpe is a magical Saint-Emilion in the making that's going to rank with the crème de la crème of the vintage. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from very old vines on the eastern side of the appellation and aging in 70% new oak, it reveals a deep purple hue to go with classic, limestone-influenced aromatics of pure cassis, graphite, chalky minerality, liquid violets, and scorched earth. Full-bodied on the palate, it has remarkable purity, a layered, balanced, seamless mouthfeel, tons of ripe tannins, and a great finish. Despite its ripeness and power, it holds onto an incredible sense of freshness (the pH is quite low). It will benefit from a decade of bottle age but will have 50 years of longevity. This estate flies far too far under that radar, and readers should do their best to latch onto a few bottles.

The 2022 Clos de Sarpe is fabulous. Dark, structured and wonderfully deep, the 2022 marries the richness of this warm, dry year with beams of vibrant acidity that lend sizzling tension. Bright red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, rose petal, spice and pomegranate all build, but the wine’s sublime balance impresses most. The 2022 is another important Clos de Sarpe under the guidance of Maylis Marcenat, who continues to bring much-needed new energy to this striking property. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Intense sliced berry aromas and flavors with minerals and stones. Very salty and intense. Medium to full body. Bright finish. Classy. Fine tannins. Minerally at the end. - James Suckling

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Clos de Sarpe wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet red berries, cherries, licorice and petals. Full-bodied, broad and layered, it's no blushing violet at 15% alcohol; yet this limestone terroir has delivered a remarkably low pH and concomitant freshness, and judicious extraction during a long but low-temperature maceration means that it remains suave and seamless. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2022 Clos de Sarpe offers up fragrant scents of dried plums, boysenberries preserves and raisin cake, giving way to wafts of sandalwood, cumin seed, and fallen leaves. The full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black and blue fruit preserves offset by wonderful tension, supported by velvety tannins, finishing with great length. The blend this year is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent