2022 Chateau de Fieuzal, Pessac-Leognan, France (750ml)

TASTING NOTES:

The 2022 de Fieuzal meets all expectations, unfurling with a perfumed bouquet of violet, iris, dark wild berries and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and layered, it gains depth with the élevage, revealing a fleshy core of fruit and an enrobing mid-palate framed by velvety, sweet tannins. Finishing long, ethereal and fresh, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot is one of my favorite wines in Pessac-Léognan. It will offer a broad drinking window and should improve with time in the cellar.

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 pts. 

Stemmy herbs with perfumed flowers, spices, morello cherries and baked citrus. Fresh and round with medium body and soft, fine-grained tannins. Long, plump and refined in the finish. Drink from 2026.

- James Suckling, 94 pts. 

Cool blue fruit and wet stone nuances on the nose, smells fresh and inviting. Smooth and lively on the palate - this balances juicy red fruits - crisp cranberry, strawberry and chalky cherries with quite powdery tannins giving a full mouthfeel and rich texture. I like the styling, feels well controlled with nuance and subtle power and leaves a lasting impression of mint, liquorice and graphite.

- Decanter, 93 pts. 

A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Château De Fieuzal is beautifully elegant, with a deep ruby/plum hue and a perfumed nose of red and black cherries, sappy herbs, and floral nuances. Medium-bodied and balanced on the palate, it has ripe yet polished tannins and a silky texture. It’s not a blockbuster and shines for its balance and purity. It will age gracefully over the coming 10-15 years.

- Jeb Dunnuck, 93 pts. 

The 2022 Château de Fieuzal has a perfumed, well-defined and complex bouquet with blackberry, wild strawberry, gravel and juniper scents. I like the coolness of the aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a keen line of acidity. It's a more structured de Fieuzal than other vintages, but there is sufficient freshness and delineation on the spicy finish. Give this four to five years in bottle.

- Vinous, 93 pts.