Cote De Baleau 2022 (750ML)

94-96 JD / 93-94 JS / 93 DE / 91-93 WI / 92 JA / 90-92 VM

The 2022 Château Cote De Baleau is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc raised in barrels. It's a pure, elegant, classic Saint-Emilion with obvious minerality as well as notes of black raspberries, chocolate, gravelly earth, and truffle. This medium to full-bodied, layered, elegant barrel sample has terrific tannins, perfect ripeness, and outstanding length. Tasted twice. - Jeb Dunnuck

Juicy fruit here with dark berry, slate and sea salt aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with linear and fine tannins, and a juicy finish. - James Suckling

Super perfumed on the nose. Sharp, just shy of sour blackcurrant and black cherry on the nose and palate, vibrant. Lovely crushed stone and powdery texture to the tannins - they're prominent giving some tightness on the mid palate with a liquorice and dark chocolate edge to the frame towards the finish. Serious but well worked, lean but detailed, just a bit tense right now though does feel sculpted with a cool minty freshness on the finish. Tasted twice and kept the higher score. Rolland & Associés consultants. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Cote de Baleau bursts forth with bold notes of plum pudding, baked blackberries, and cedar chest, plus wafts of Indian spices and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits with ripe, rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

A kick of austerity on the opening beats, then this softens and widens to show creamy black cherry, bitter chocolate and intese spice, reflective of this cooler terroir. 20% new oak, 20% Second-fill barrels, 20% third-fill barrels, 40% in vat. 40hl/h yield. Harvest September 13 to October 5, 20% new oak. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The 2022 Côte de Baleau is quite racy and extroverted in this vintage, as one might expect. Bright redtoned fruit, chalk, mint and white pepper lend notable brilliance to this mid-weight Saint-Émilion. Côte de Baleau is usually pretty forthcoming. The 2022 might need some time to come together. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous