The 2022 vintage will be remembered as one of Bordeaux’s greatest modern triumphs. Despite being one of the hottest and driest years on record, the vines demonstrated remarkable resilience, producing wines of outstanding concentration, freshness, and balance. Early tastings place 2022 alongside legendary years like 1982, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2016, and 2018, with the potential to be one of the defining vintages of the century.

Weather Conditions:

• Spring: A warm, early start to the season, with even flowering ensuring good fruit set.
• Summer: Extreme heat and drought marked the vintage, but the region’s deep gravel, clay, and limestone soils helped preserve water and maintain vine health. Unlike other hot years, cool nights provided balance, retaining freshness and aromatics.
• Harvest: Began earlier than average under perfect conditions, with grapes harvested in pristine health and exceptional ripeness.

Red Wines:

• Merlot: Produced deeply coloured, plush wines with velvety tannins, abundant dark fruit, and striking concentration, especially in Pomerol and Saint-Émilion.
• Cabernet Sauvignon: Shined on the Left Bank, where small, thick-skinned berries yielded wines of power, elegance, and impressive structure, built for decades of aging.
• Profile: The reds are rich, dense, and perfumed, yet carry a surprising sense of freshness and precision. Notes of cassis, blackberry, violet, graphite, and spice are common, with extraordinary depth and balance.

White Wines:

• Dry whites, though produced in smaller quantities, are vibrant and aromatic, with citrus, stone fruit, and floral notes backed by crisp acidity.
• Sauternes and Barsac had lower yields, but quality is high, with sweet wines showing purity and intensity.

Aging Potential:
2022 Bordeaux reds combine the concentration of a hot, dry year with the freshness of cooler vintages, giving them extraordinary longevity. The best wines will age gracefully for 30–50+ years, while still offering relatively early approachability thanks to their ripe tannins.

Critical Reception:
From barrel tastings, critics across the board have lauded 2022 as a monumental vintage. Many estates achieved record-breaking quality, with wines showing both density and refinement. The vintage is already being compared to the greatest years in Bordeaux history, including the legendary 1982.

Conclusion:
The 2022 Bordeaux vintage is a landmark year, producing wines of exceptional concentration, elegance, and balance. It captures the richness of a hot summer while retaining the freshness and energy that define great Bordeaux. Collectors and enthusiasts should secure allocations early, as this is a vintage destined for legend.