2022 Marquis de Terme

Intense and concentrated, showcasing the impressive quality potential of the 2022 vintage. Unusual also to see a 13% wine in this vintage, reflecting the regularity of these soils. It's good, very much on the luscious side of the lineup, with black chocolate, pomegranate, damson and fleshy black cherry, given restraint by clips of mint leaf, violet, lavender, pink peppercorn, slate and graphite. Delicious. 50% new oak for ageing, Diam cork, Julien Viaud consultant. This is a higher score than my En Primeur note, often the case in bigger vintages when doing an estate vertical, but also reflects how well this wine is bedding in and opening up with a few years in bottle. Ludovic David director. Julien Viaud of Rolland & Associés winemaking consultant.

Based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2022 Château Marquis De Terme is brilliant stuff, with a richly textured, concentrated, medium to full-bodied style. Ripe darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, and lead pencil nuances all define the aromatics, and it's balanced, with a pure, layered mouthfeel and ripe tannins. It ranks with the finest vintages of this cuvée to date. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more.

The 2022 Marquis de Terme has a classic, almost Pauillac-styled bouquet with blackberry, wild hedgerow and light tobacco scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, but the substance drops away halfway through, making the finish feel a bit mean. I wanted to like this more than I do. I tasted it twice, and the notes were consistent.