En Primeur 2022 New Release: Château Margaux, Château Pavie, Château Leoville Las Cases, Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Bordeaux Index
19 June 2023
Smith Haut Lafitte has become one of the ‘must-have’ wines of Bordeaux, such has been its run of success certainly in the past 10 years but arguably as far back as 2000.
Their new 2022 is released today at GBP 1367 per 12.
This is without doubt another great SHL – Jeb Dunnuck makes reference to the 2010. It is clearly one of the great successes of the Graves this year.
“This ripe, powerful, concentrated wine reminds me of the 2010 with its structure, concentrated mid-palate, and just sheer density and regal, full-bodied style on the palate.” Jeb Dunnuck
The work the Cathiards have been doing at this estate is beyond impressive. Danial and Florence Cathiard both starting their careers as Olympic skiers in the French national team, have owned the estate since 1990. Since that time they converted the estate to organic farming, and a large portion is biodynamically farmed now too. They are also leaders from a wine tourism point of view with a wine spa hotel attached to the property.
“A real success of the vintage that manages to deliver a bold, structured, concentrated and powerful wine with real terroir signature” Georgina Hindle
Not only this, the estate has their own cooperage, which opened in 1995 to maintain and repair their barrels to their own demanding specification. The style here is now much more finessed and precise than perhaps more flamboyant styles of the mid-00s. When tasting this year, we found this was a wine with impressive concentration and density, with hints of exoticism.
“The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte is a regal, elegant wine” Antonio Galloni
We also have a smattering of the ever-popular Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2022 at GBP 1439 per dozen. This receives some of the highest scores for dry whites in the vintage, coming in only behind the famous, exclusive whites of Haut Brion and La Mission with Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Buy Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2022
Château Pavie
We are delighted to offer the new release of Chateau Pavie at GBP 3576 per 12. This year the wine sports an eye catching, special black and gold embossed bottle to celebrate the 25th harvest of Gerard Perse.
“This is another heavenly Pavie” Jeb Dunnuck
This year Pavie also incorporates both Pavie Decesse and Bellevue Mondot which will no longer be produced. Pavie is an estate renowned for its power and concentration, and this year is no exception with the final blend made up of 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 2022 being the earliest harvest ever recorded at the estate. With some of the steepest slopes anywhere in Bordeaux, this is without doubt one of the very best and complex terroirs in St Emilion.
“This has depth but also real tension giving a push-pull between density and direction” Georgina Hindle
Other New Releases Today:
Château Beausesejour Duffau 2022