Dear *|FNAME|*,

Last month we drove hundreds of kilometres up and down Bordeaux’s Left and Right Banks, breaking bread with our favourite château owners and winemakers. We also had the opportunity to taste several 2022 en primeur samples. It was a memorable trip with many standout moments, such as visiting Guillaume Thienpont at Vieux Château Certan and Le Pin, lunch with Jean-Antoine Nony at Grand Mayne, and dinner with David Suire at Laroque.

Another high point of the trip was our visit to Clos Manou in the Northern Médoc with Stéphane and Françoise Dief. Much like the Swartland Revolution’s core winemakers, the pair regard themselves as custodians and wine growers, caring for the soil and vines. Their block of ungrafted Merlot vines dating back to 1850 is the envy of many a top Left Bank producer, and we’re excited to add them to our en primeur offering this year.

Bordeaux futures: En primeur 2022

A very warm and dry season in 2022 left winemakers fearing the worst. But despite their power and richness, most of the 2022 in-barrel samples we tasted have superb freshness and drive, lending great upright posture to the wines.

Tasting the separate vinified plots as well as the final blend of Laroque 2022 (97 JA) was incredible! A swathe of high scores confirms the esteem for this Saint-Émilion property, which still offers terrific value. Brane Cantenac 2022 (96-98 NM) is thrilling and a must for followers of Cab-driven Left Bank wines, and tasting Wine Cellar favourite Les Carmes Haut Brion 2022 (99-100 WA) at the château was absolutely stunning. A high percentage of Cabernet Franc – along with whole-bunch components and other maturation vessels – has resulted in a wine with a tannin profile and structure unlike anything else.

Saint-Julien is potentially the appellation of the vintage, with a string of top wines across price points. These include our regular EP picks: Léoville Las Cases (98-100 by WA, NM and AG!), Léoville Barton (96-98 NM), and Langoa Barton (93-95 WA).

For more information on en primeur and the Bordeaux 2022 campaign, contact johan@winecellar.co.za. Or view our current Bordeaux selection here.

Reply to this email or visit our website to place your order online.

Vinous regards,

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