Bordeaux Primeurs 2022: "Astonishing" (Suckling) 

A prophetic vintage or how the vine demonstrates its exceptional resilience 

No one can forget the monstrous fires (30,000 hectares) that devastated the Landes forests in July 2022 and the repeated heatwaves. The 2022 vintage will likely be a turning point towards a new era. First, due to the incredible ability of the vineyard to adapt to new climatic conditions and surpass itself (clay subsoils preserving moisture for weeks, solidarity among plant species within the vineyard, contribution of biodiversity to prevent evapotranspiration of the vine), but also due to the phenomenal capacity of humans to assist it. The creativity and knowledge of winemakers continue to advance in this field: increasing climatic buffers scattered among the vines (ponds, berries, hedges, streams), installing cover crops, selecting deep-rooted rootstocks over the years, not leaf-stripping, limiting trimming, reducing soil work to a minimum to prevent evaporation, etc. If the 2022 vintage can be summed up in one word, it's resilience. The result is as spectacular as it is surprising: the 2022 vintage shows both roundness, smoothness, and a totally unexpected freshness, a miraculous balance. But there is still a price to pay: unfortunately, the yield is very low; the Bordeaux wines of 2022 are excellent but rare.

A drier and warmer winter start

Apart from two cold spells, the winter is generally warmer and drier than usual. Fortunately, rains in November and December 2021 saturated the soils with water, allowing the vine to prepare for this scorching year. In March, thanks to some cool nights, budding was delayed as much as possible from mid-March, allowing the vine to withstand the early April 2022 frosts.

Sticking to the same practices

April is the only month of the year to follow the usual trend. From May onwards, the thermometer skyrockets: peaks above 30 degrees accelerate growth and precipitate flowering around mid-May, determining the precocity of the entire harvest.

A miraculous summer

The first half of June, scorching, pushes the vine towards water stress, and winemakers hold their breath. Fortunately, the second half, marked by thunderstorms, restores balance with above-average rainfall. These providential rains played a key role in the vine's resilience to the future heatwaves of July and August. Despite five heatwaves and severe drought, the soils retained some coolness thanks to these downpours, and the grapes developed surprising aromatic notes. Moreover, in August, cooler nighttime temperatures allowed the vine to hold on throughout the month. The winemakers waited patiently, praying for their vines and not touching anything: neither the soil, the leaves, nor the clusters, allowing the plants to resist and prevent evaporation.

Perfect timing

The first white grape harvests ever recorded at this date took place in Sauternes: August 9th! Luckily so, as after the July heatwaves, sugar levels were already high enough, and it would have been damaging for the whites to wait any longer.

The red grape harvests also began exceptionally early: in some estates as early as September 2nd! The harvests took place over three weeks throughout Bordeaux, without rot or dilution.

The Whites

With relatively low acidity, the whites were particularly early. The results, of course, depend on the terroirs, with clay and limestone compositions keeping the soils more uniformly moist. Some whites turned out surprisingly fruity, with Sauvignon showing citrus zest and exotic fruit, and Semillon offering notes of peach and apricot.

The Reds

With overall very favorable conditions at key moments of budding, flowering, and harvest, the reds are generally very successful, sometimes even exceptional. On clay-limestone soils, the Merlots are round and creamy, and the Cabernet Francs have a beautiful maturity and contribute to the surprising freshness of this vintage. The Cabernet Sauvignon, thriving in drier and hotter climates, benefits from climate change. Its tannic structure is powerful, while still being accessible and distinguished. Although the berries are unusually small, notes of blackcurrant and mentholated spices reach a beautiful balance.

2022 is a vintage filled with emotion: one of a year full of waiting, prayers, humility, relief, and finally, wonder. As Nicolas Thienpont, a renowned Bordeaux winemaker, describes it, "the main fear for this vintage would be a repeat of 2003, a year of heatwaves and extreme drought, producing a very dense, highly alcoholic, and poorly balanced wine". However, unlike 2003, thanks to the heavy June rains and the cool August nights, and also thanks to the heat protection techniques implemented by the Châteaux, the wine in 2022 is flamboyant, surprisingly fresh, fruity, and with balanced tannins. Even just out of the barrels, their vitality and harmony surprised many critics, including those from Wine Advocate. José Sanfins of Château Cantenac Brown sums up the magic of the wine well: "Mother Nature likes to remind us periodically that she is and will remain the master of the game".

Purchase Bordeaux Primeurs 2022 on Subscription

What is it?

Every year, around early April, the various Bordeaux estates hold primeur tastings of the latest vintage harvested the previous autumn. These wines, still maturing, are presented to the specialized press as well as professionals. Thus, every year, we spend a week tasting all the Bordeaux wines that will be sold as primeurs.

Then, between May and July, the various Bordeaux Châteaux publish their sale prices for these wines that have just been tasted. It is up to us, the professionals, to decide whether to take a position on this or that wine, depending on the result of our tasting and, of course, the price offered. Once we have made our selection, we offer these wines on subscription to our clientele, always at the best price. The list of Bordeaux primeurs on subscription is generally published towards the end of June or early July.

The Bordeaux primeurs purchased on subscription are payable within 30 days and will be delivered, free of charge for 36 bottles or more, in the spring two years later, after bottling by the various Châteaux.

The advantages of primeur sales are numerous, both for the Château and the customer. The Château can obtain cash flow when it needs it most. The customer ensures they get wines that may no longer be available later. Also, when purchasing Bordeaux primeurs, the customer can order bottle sizes (halves, magnums) that they will no longer be able to order after bottling. Of course, in the case of a price increase, it is the savvy customer who benefits...