Chateau Margaux Premier Cru Classe, Margaux 2022

Stunning in its density and construction, with a gorgeous balance that starts with red rose aromatics and slides into creamy and intense raspberry, damson, loganberry and cassis fruits. The intense structure of the vintage is on display, here with velvety tannins giving shape and contrast by a push and pull of slate, graphite, cloves, turmeric, cardamom and white pepper. Bitter dark chocolate ending, a character of the year but here delivered with a blast of cooling mint leaf.

Philippe Bascaules director, harvest September 8 to 27, 25hl/h yield. 100% new oak, to be monitored carefully over ageing because this is the first time they have seen this level of alcohol in the Cabernet Sauvignon. 40% of the crop is into this 1st wine, one of the highest in years. They are slowly changing the row orientation in the vineyard at Margaux, begun last year but a 50 year project, and introducing more Cabernet Franc through field grafting wanting to get up to maybe 15% of plantings, currently 5%).

Drink 2032 - 2052

The 2022 Château Margaux is a total stunner. Ripe, opulent and explosive, the 2022 has tremendous depth and textural intensity from start to finish. There’s a purity to the fruit that is just striking. The 2022 is a dark, unusually opulent Margaux, with a dense core of fruit but a good deal of vibrancy to balance things out. Black cherry, lavender, spice and a kiss of new French oak build in the glass, but the wine’s delineation and intensity are most captivating. Vibrant saline notes linger on the seamless, supremely elegant finish. Unforgettable.

Drink 2030 - 2062

The 2022 Château Margaux represents 40% of the crop this year, slightly higher than recent years, picked between 8 and 27 September. As usual, the Grand Vin demands more time to unfold on the nose than the Pavillon. It unveils enticing scents of macerated black cherries, blueberry, violet and hints of orange blossom, all delivered with impressive delineation.

The palate is medium-bodied with sculpted tannins. Given the growing season, a fine-boned and tensile Château Margaux is a remarkable feat. Silky smooth and almost creamy at first, toward the finish, it reveals a slightly powdery texture, almost swaggering in style. Not a subtle or nuanced Château Margaux; Philippe Bascaules has conjured a First Growth dressed to kill.

Drink 2027 - 2060

A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, 2022 Château Margaux is one of the most powerful wines ever produced at this estate, wafting from the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, dark berries, violets, burning embers, smoked tea and exotic spices. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it's rich, velvety and seamless, with a bright core of fruit and a long, heady finish. With the highest analytical measure of tannins since 2010, and an alcohol level a touch above 14%, this is certainly a larger-scaled Château Margaux, yet at this early stage, everything appears to be kept in check.

92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot.

It is a very dark purple colour with a ruby edge. There is so much crushed blackberry and blackcurrant with violets. Exuberant. Full-bodied and very tannic with incredible muscle. This is a thought-provoking wine. The biggest Margaux I have tasted in my career. Seems a little overdone for Margaux.