This magazine was shared with you as a member of our select club of Bordeaux-lovers all over the world.
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Ronald discovering the Bordeaux vintage 2022 for you
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A Personal Note From Ronald,
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This is my yearly Bordeaux Vintage Special with my verdict on the Bordeaux Left Bank wines of the vintage 2022.
In general, I can be short about it this year: the vintage is simply great.
I was a bit worried before tasting this vintage because of the four heatwaves we experienced this year.
Great for the ripeness and the alcohol but challenging for the so-important freshness.
This freshness was sometimes lacking in previous hot vintages, especially the vintage 2003.
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Etienne Charrier, rightfully proud of a great Prieuré-Lichine:
“We have learned from the ’03 and adapted our work in the vineyard and that paid off“
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Worries
The big surprise of the vintage was the remarkable freshness.
A freshness that none of the winemakers I spoke with, could explain to me.
But they were all more than happy with this surprise of the vintage.
The first tastings convinced me directly that we had another great vintage on our hands.
Spitting out these wines was a challenge as they were this good.
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A very cheerful Jean-Jaques Bonnie of Chateau Malartic-Lagravière: “We were relieve to find this freshness in 2022”
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Both approachable and for the long term
I feel that this vintage will approachable in about 5 years.
And will possibly keep another 30 to 40 years (and I do hope I will be there to enjoy them…).
Today the Left Bank
I decided to do something different from previous Bordeaux Vintage Special issues of this newsletter.
Today I am releasing my comments and ratings of the Left Bank First Growths.
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Next time I will focus on the Right Bank
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Next time: Right Bank
I try not to overwhelm you with too much information.
That’s why you will receive a second issue on the vintage 2022 in a couple of days.
This second issue will focus on my ratings and comments on the Right Bank wines.
And in this next issue if the Vintage Special I will reveal what I consider to be the “best wine of the vintage 2022.”
I hope my notes and ratings may help you with your “2022 En Primeur” purchases.
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Winemaker Mickaël Obert of Chateau Gazin introduced me to Elise de Bailliencourt (R), the next generation at Gazin.
Mickaël didn’t understand the freshness in his wine:
“But I am very happy with it.”
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Actively looking for one last couple for 2023
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We have one last room available on the September Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour, (following a cancellation).
So, we are actively looking for one fun wine-loving couple or friends to join us on this -what our guests call- “an experience of a lifetime.”
Can you believe that you’ll indulge in a daily lunch at a Bordeaux Chateau?
And there is more: for dinner we take you to the most renowned restaurants of the area, including Bordeaux’s most elegant Michelin-starred restaurant.
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Enjoy a daily Chateau Lunch
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And if that’s not enough, you will sample your way around one of the oldest regional open-air food markets while foraging ingredients.
Followed by a fun cooking class while enjoying some of the best Bordeaux wines.
And to round it all off we have a Farewell dinner like you’ve never experienced before.
You will be tasting wines like Chateau Margaux, Latour, and Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 20 years old!
So, act now and ask us for an Itinerary here because you don’t want to miss out!
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Lunch in the gardens of Chateau Coulon Laurensac
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2024 Tour program filling up fast
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Planning on traveling next year? Then check out our 2024 Bordeaux Wine Tour program here.
This is what Louis and Marissa wrote after participating in last week’s Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour:
“Thank you for a wonderful week of food, wine, and education. This has been an unforgettable Bordeaux Wine EXPERIENCE! We hope to do this again soon!”
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Louis and Marissa: “We hope to do this again soon!”
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Ronald and Margaret love to share
their passion for Bordeaux with you
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Bordeaux 2022: Off the charts
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It were the vines that outperformed in 2022
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Bordeaux 2022: freshness was the big surprise
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We have been spoilt by so many great vintages in the last 20 years that I sometimes ask myself: Can it get even better?
Well, after having tasted the 2022 on futures, my answer is a resounding yes!
Even winemakers and owners that I have known for many years and who are usually very modest, exclaimed that this vintage is outstanding.
As I wrote in my introduction, the heatwaves of 2022 made me fear for a lack of freshness.
Big surprise
The big surprise is this remarkable freshness, beautiful ripe fruit and tannins that were among the best I have ever experienced in barrel samples.
It’s true, the alcohol levels are a bit higher than usual, but they remain within reason for a hot vintage.
The alcohol in most wines is around 14% or 14.5% .
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And yes, that’s more alcohol than 20 years ago, of course, but no more than other great vintages like 2016, 2019 or 2020.
Hot and dry
2022 was not only hot, but also dry, which is in many ways reminiscent of 2003.
But, and here’s a small but subtle difference: the nights in 2022 were significantly cooler.
In addition, in 2022 the heat developed slowly and evenly over the entire growing season, allowing the vines to adapt to the warm weather.
In 2003 it was different, because then the heat wave came quickly, and more violently.
2022 thus benefits from greater temperature differences between day and night, which may explain the freshness.
2022 at a glance
The 2022 was exceptionally dry with an all-time record of only 615mm of rain (from October 2021 until September 2022).
The winter was dry and cold which was beneficial for the vines. On average February and March were relatively mild, but some days were very warm where others were very cold.
The lack of rain seems to have prepared the vines for what was to come.
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Bud burst was relatively late, and some properties suffered a bit from the frosty episode in the beginning of April.
May was very hot indeed. This hot and dry weather assured a near-perfect flowering of the vines.
The rain in June gave some risk of mildew.
The weather changed and the first heatwave of the season was in June.
July was the driest on record and also extremely hot with temperatures of 1,5 degrees above the 27-year average.
August was the driest since 2016 and temperatures continued to be high with regular heatwaves, making this the second hottest august on record, just behind 2003.
September was also warm and dry.
The dry nature of the vintage produced grapes of an exceptional ripeness and also perfectly healthy due to the absence of botrytis.
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Why I use the 20-point scale
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Rating wine is a very personal experience
A wine rating is one individual opinion of one individual taster on one specific moment and we should be modest about the outcomes.
Nobody has an absolute judgment about wine, not even the critic formally known as Parker.
Again it’s just an opinion of one taster.
There are many different systems of ratings. Some rate wines with stars with a maximum varying from three to five stars.
In France wines traditionally are rated on a 20-point scale, the same scale that is used in all educational systems in France.
The American wine critic Robert Parker introduced a 100-point scale and that became an instant success.
Rating wine is a very personal experience, especially in a vintage like 2022. Rating these wines becomes complicated.
We are nitpicking here, because all the great terroirs produced extraordinary wines.
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Enjoying an excellent Pontet-Canet 2016 over a well-deserved lunch during the futures tastings
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Mouton Rotschild, my Left Bank wine of the vintage 2022
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Too refined
I personally think that this 100-point scale attracts us so much because the 100-point mark unconsciously makes us think about 100% meaning perfection.
I feel that this 100-point scale is too refined.
Can one really consistently discern the difference between a 93-point wine and a 94-point wine?
Personally I doubt this very much.
I use the traditional 20 points scale where I sometimes added some half-points or even the occasional “+” or “–“ where I want to add some nuances.
I have been using this 20-point scale over the last 30 years and it served me well.
I hope my ratings will help you make your purchasing decisions for the Bordeaux vintage 2022 that can’t be missed in your cellar.
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Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2022
1er Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac
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Lafite in the middle of an ocean of the best vineyards
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The high temperatures in 2022 made Eric Kohler, technical director at Lafite, nervous at first.
Lafite’s vines suffered in the heat. With an apologetic smile he said: “The vines seem to get used to the many hot vintages we had. They either die or adapt to the new circumstances.
It was almost as hot as in 2003. Today we would be able to make a better 2003.”
CEO Saskia de Rothschild Calls the 2022: “A vintage that doesn’t fit in any box.”
Well, this Lafite will be more than welcome in my cellar…
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Saskia de Rothschild: “2022 doesn’t fit in any box”
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Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2022
1er Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac
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Mouton Rothschild outperformed again in 2022
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Change happened
“Mouton ne change”, Mouton doesn’t change, is the motto of this First Growth.
It has been almost a decade since the new generation followed Philippine de Rothschild at this remarkable First Growth.
Philippe Sereys de Rothschild was rightfully proud of his vintage 2022.
And in my opinion, he could be proud of Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, the estate manager at Mouton.
Jean-Emmanuel produced a wine that is my Left Bank wine of the vintage two times in a row!
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A very happy Philippe Sereys de Rothschild
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Chateau Latour 2022
1er Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac
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Ronald not too intimidated at Chateau Latour tasting the 2022 on futures
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Latour: very happy with the result in 2022
Driving up to Latour (meaning tower in French) there can be no doubts as to where you are going:
The iconic tower kind of gives it away. This tower is not the crenelated tower that adorns the labels and cases of this First Growth.
Nothing remains of the original tower. The current tower is actually a dovecote built in the early seventeenth century.
Make no mistake, the wines here are as powerful as the original tower.
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Latour: wines as powerful as the tower
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Chateau Margaux 2022
1er Grand Cru Classé, Margaux
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Chateau Margaux is always imposing, even in the rain
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For me, driving up to Chateau Margaux feels a bit like coming home.
Margaux was built in the same Palladian style as Chateau Coulon Laurensac.
Our chateau was built in 1724 and Chateau Margaux in 1815; so almost a century later…
Margaux is the only chateau to bear the same name as the wines produced on its land.
And the wines are as elegant and imposing as the chateau’s façade.
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wine as elegant as the chateau
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Chateau Haut Brion 2022 – La Mission Haut Brion 2022
1er Grand Cru Classé, Pessac-Léognan
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Tasting Haut Brion at La Mission Haut Brion, the sister chateau of this First Growth
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I tasted the wines of this oldest of the First Growths at La Mission Haut Brion, the sister chateau of Haut Brion.
Haut Brion tore down their winery and has entered in one of the largest renovation processes in 50 years.
Haut Brion boasts a number of firsts:
It was the first appellation to be certified, the first estate dedicated solely to the production of wine, the first great wine exported, the first of the First Growths to work in stainless steel tanks, etc.
Personally, I am very curious to see what they will come up with in their new winery.
It might still take some time: In France you know when you start building; you never know when you will finish…
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Coming soon: Bordeaux Right Bank 2022
tasting notes and ratings
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Our 2024 Bordeaux Wine Tour Program
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Because you want a Bordeaux Wine Experience and not “just a tour”
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A master-class on tasting Classified Growths marks the
start of each of our Bordeaux Week Tours
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The Bordeaux Grand Cru tour
This is probably our most exclusive tour. This ultimate wine tour for Bordeaux lovers is as good as it gets.
Can you believe that you’ll taste all five First Growths plus Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem including some older vintages! Of course we include the best of Saint Emilion and Pomerol as well.
Add to this outstanding meals at exceptional venues not normally open to the public and you’ll see why this tour usually sells out early.
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The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour
The Harvest Tour is Grand in every way, both in food and wine. Enjoy chateau meals and Michelin rated dining.
The most exciting time in Bordeaux is harvest time. You can sense the anticipation in the air.
And the food is superb as well: Exclusive meals at extraordinary venues not normally open to the public.
On top of that you’ll taste all five First Growths plus Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem and many of them will be older vintages!
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Bordeaux in full harvest swing
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Not for everyone
It is true: Bordeaux and its wines can seem a bit intimidating at first. Don’t worry, on this tour Ronald and his team will guide you through all this like an insider. Remember: we tour prestigious estates, not pretentious people. You’ll develop a preference for “Left-Bank” or “Right-Bank”, while visiting some of the best chateaux in the world. Our tours are both entertaining and informative. Some of our guests already know a lot about Bordeaux and its wines. For others a tour serves as a top-down introduction to the fascinating Bordeaux Wine World. Whatever your background, we can guarantee that you will have a great time.
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At Superior First Growth Yquem
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Intimate, not intimidating
We combine a down-to-earth approach with a great sense of humor. And we prefer nice people on our tours. Pretentious or obnoxious people: please stay away! We’re serious about this because it is a personal, intimate experience (i.e. with us), filled with a lot of fun, so there is no time or energy for jerks… So please only join us if you are a nice person who likes wine and want to learn more about the intriguing Bordeaux wine world and want to taste the best wines in the world while having a fun vacation.
Click here for our Tour Schedule.
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Culinary highlights and great fun!
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A Food and Wine Experience
Although this Bordeaux wine tour seems to emphasize “just” on wine, we feel wine is best enjoyed with great food. That’s why we put as much effort into the planning of the meals as we do on the planning of the vineyard visits. Our Bordeaux Wine Experiences include memorable dinners in the best restaurants of the Bordeaux area. You will enjoy a dinner at a famous Michelin starred Relais & Chateaux Restaurant.
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A Farewell dinner like you never have experienced before
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Gourmet meals in venues not normally open to the public
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Culinary highlights
And there is more! You’ll never forget those gourmet meals in different Bordeaux Chateaux.
And if that is not enough, the Farewell Dinner will be at our Chateau Coulon Laurensac. Our private chef will prepare another wonderful meal for us that we’ll accompany by an impressive succession of library wines that have been aging in our cellar, including a First Growth from an older vintage and Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 20 years old!
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2024 Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule
(Open for booking)
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_____________________________________________________________________
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What makes our Bordeaux Wine and Culinary Tours so special?
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Exclusive touring: limited to six double/twin rooms and one single |
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Carefree and truly effortless travel in Bordeaux: We take care of everything, really everything |
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See and taste all 5 First Growths and Château Yquem! |
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Expert (and humorous) guidance by Bordeaux specialist Ronald Rens |
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Air-conditioned accommodation at our privately owned 18th century chateau |
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Taste more Classified Growths than on any other Bordeaux wine tour! |
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Grand Cru Farewell Dinner with all Grand Cru wines (including Chateau d’Yquem!) |
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Gourmet meals at Bordeaux Chateaux and a Michelin starred restaurant! |
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Grand Cru wines with all meals (except breakfast…) |
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Air-conditioned, luxury motor coach transportation throughout the tour |
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Great food and wine and a lot of fun in a small group |
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Chateau Coulon Laurensac, without a doubt the best place in the world to taste all five First Growths and Yquem…
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The Bordeaux Wine Experience
at Chateau Coulon Laurensac
1, chemin de Meydieu
33360 Latresne (BORDEAUX), France
Website : www.BXWINEX.com
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Call us:
1-877-203-2665 (toll free from USA & Canada) or
+33 556 20 64 12 (from anywhere else in the world)
(These lines go directly to our Chateau in Bordeaux so please remember that we’re on Paris time!)
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Copyright © 2023 by The Bordeaux Wine Experience. All rights reserved. The content, design and graphical elements of this Magazine are copyrighted. The Bordeaux Wine Experience is a Dutch company specializing in wine and culinary tours in the Bordeaux region for an English speaking international clientele.
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