Winemaker Notes
Despite the extreme and warm weather conditions, 2022 surprises us with its balance and freshness. A unique blend of the best qualities from the last three great vintages of Pédesclaux, 2022 combines the energy of 2018, the concentration and freshness of 2019, and the linearity of 2020. An exceptional vintage, 2022 illustrates a rare depth of color, while the concentration and fleshiness of Merlot creates sapidity on the palate. The Petit Verdot imparts a floral touch and a notable tannic finesse, while the Cabernet Franc lends spicy notes and further enhances the depth of the wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon is beautifully integrated, providing a certain dynamism and a strong Pauillac identity to the 2022.
Blend: 49% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A beautiful, expressive nose of violets, dark cherries, cassis and pencil shavings. Deep and really perfumed, with firm and precise tannins. 49% merlot, 46% cabernet sauvignon and 5% petit verdot. It’s already appealing, but it should be aged for two to three years in the bottle. Drink from 2028.
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Decanter
Fruity and open on the nose. Nice intensity and structure, lively and straight In the mouth with overall balance. A touch light, but so easy to drink with real Cabernet signature. Feels well worked, not massively layered but delivers an enjoyable glass of wine with cool freshness and refinement. Total acidity: 3.6. 35% new oak barrels. 3.79pH.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
The leader on the Left Bank in number of first growth classified producers within its boundaries, Pauillac has more than any of the other appellations, at three of the five. Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild border St. Estephe on its northern end and Chateau Latour is at Pauillac’s southern end, bordering St. Julien.
While the first growths are certainly some of the better producers of the Left Bank, today they often compete with some of the “lower ranked” producers (second, third, fourth, fifth growth) in quality and value. The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification that goes back to 1855. The finest chateaux in that year were judged on the basis of reputation and trading price; changes in rank since then have been miniscule at best. Today producers such as Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Grand Puy-Lacoste, Chateau Lynch-Bages, among others (all fifth growth) offer some of the most outstanding wines in all of Bordeaux.
Defining characteristics of fine wines from Pauillac (i.e. Cabernet-based Bordeaux Blends) include inky and juicy blackcurrant, cedar or cigar box and plush or chalky tannins.
Layers of gravel in the Pauillac region are key to its wines’ character and quality. The layers offer excellent drainage in the relatively flat topography of the region allowing water to run off into “jalles” or streams, which subsequently flow off into the Gironde.