Wine 2022

Bordeaux 2022: A Sunny Year with Concentrated and Balanced Wines

In Bordeaux, the 2022 vintage was marked by intense drought and high temperatures throughout the summer. The lack of water slowed vine growth, but the hot days were tempered by relatively cool nights, helping to preserve the grapes' acidity. Some parcels suffered from water stress, particularly young vines and those planted on well-drained soils, but the vines demonstrated remarkable resilience.

The harvest started early, with smaller berries rich in polyphenols and sugars, signalling powerful and structured wines. The red wines display excellent concentration, with ripe, velvety tannins and intense aromas of black fruits, spices, and floral notes. Cabernet Sauvignon particularly benefited from the summer heat, reaching perfect ripeness. Merlot also performed well, offering a generous and rounded texture. For dry white wines, the warmth reduced natural acidity, resulting in richer, more expressive wines. In Sauternes, some late-season rains helped develop noble rot, ensuring a complex and aromatic sweet wine production.

Burgundy 2022: A Year of Rebirth

After several vintages with low yields due to spring frosts and vine diseases, 2022 marked a return to form for Burgundy, with generous volumes and impressive quality. The warm and dry climate ensured even ripening, allowing for a smooth harvest under perfect conditions.

Chardonnay wines are beautifully concentrated, rich, and expressive, yet balanced by good acidity, preserved thanks to the cool late-summer nights. They offer aromas of ripe yellow fruits, citrus, and subtle hazelnut, with a refined minerality. Pinot Noir wines are deep and vibrant, with fine, silky tannins. The fruit expression is intense, featuring black cherry, blackberry, and sweet spice notes. The aging process will further enhance their elegance and ageing potential.

Rhône Valley 2022: Heat and Concentration

The Rhône Valley experienced a particularly dry and hot year, resulting in lower yields but exceptional grape quality.

In the Northern Rhône, Syrah grapes ripened perfectly, producing deeply concentrated wines with aromas of blackcurrant, violets, and black pepper. Despite the warm conditions, freshness remains in the wines, tempering the vintage's richness.

In the Southern Rhône, Grenache vines struggled with water stress, but old vines with deep roots adapted well. The resulting wines are rich, full-bodied, and sun-kissed, with aromas of dark fruits, garrigue, and ripe tannins. White wines, particularly Roussanne and Marsanne, exhibit roundness and intense floral aromas. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Vacqueyras particularly stand out with powerful wines built for ageing.

Other Regions: A Diversity of Styles and Successes

Champagne: An unusual vintage with an early harvest, producing ripe, well-balanced base wines. The Chardonnay wines stand out, offering great tension and elegant aromatics.

Loire: Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé whites are rich and generous, with slightly lower acidity than usual. Cabernet Franc from Chinon and Saumur produced structured yet fruit-forward red wines.

Jura: The Savagnin and Chardonnay wines show beautiful complexity, while the Trousseau and Poulsard reds are fruity, fresh, and elegant.

Languedoc: A warm vintage producing powerful and spicy red wines, yet well-balanced thanks to cooler nights. White and rosé wines are aromatic and generous.

Provence: The rosés are intensely aromatic, with red fruit and citrus notes, finishing with a refreshing salinity.

Alsace: A generous year in volume, with expressive and intense Riesling and Gewurztraminer. Grand Cru wines show great promise with complexity and ageing potential.

Beaujolais: The Gamay vines resisted the heat well, producing concentrated wines with soft tannins and bright fruit character. A ripe but balanced vintage.

Corse: The drought resulted in dense, full-bodied reds, while Vermentino-based white wines are lively and intensely aromatic.

The 2022 vintage in France is defined by a hot and dry year, leading to concentrated grapes and, in some regions, lower yields, but overall excellent quality. While red wines tend to be powerful and ripe, white wines balance richness with freshness. This vintage is shaping up to be a strong success across most regions, with wines offering intensity, elegance, and ageing potential.