Nestled on the slopes of Saint-Émilion, the Château Haut-Fonrazade 2022 delivers a luminous take on a Grand Cru. The precision of Merlot, supported by the upright character of Cabernet Franc, evokes the spirit of great terroir-driven Bordeaux. The ruby, almost jewel-like, robe announces the tension between generosity and structure. The nose unfolds with a weave of ripe red fruits and plums, underscored by a hint of liquorice and dark chocolate, a prelude to a sapid core. On the palate, a caressing attack gives way to a cleverly built framework, with rounded tannins that gain definition on exposure and a graphic persistence. Born of a clay-limestone soil and a temperate oceanic climate, this 2022 balances flesh, freshness and length for a dining experience that favors precision of expression and the eloquence of fruit.

Blend and winemaking

This Grand Cru rests on a blend dominated by Merlot for roundness and flesh, complemented by Cabernet Franc, which brings structure, finesse and aromatic lift. The clay-limestone terroir provides the wine's backbone with mineral freshness and the ability to preserve balance. Winemaking, attentive to fruit purity, highlights controlled extractions and aging designed to reveal texture and depth without masking the vintage's identity. The clear objective is to retain the grapes' native energy, the precision of black fruit and gentle spice aromas, delivering a wine that is both immediate and structured, capable of shining at the table today while evolving gracefully over the years.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Bright ruby with cherry highlights, clear and clingy on the glass. The material suggests good density, crossed by luminous flashes that betray the vitality of the 2022 vintage.
• Nose : Expressive bouquet of fleshy red fruits and plums, joined by nuances of liquorice, dark chocolate and a hint of spice. With aeration, undergrowth notes and a touch of truffle emerge, adding complexity without weighing the wine down.
• Palate : Broad, velvety attack, a pulpy mid-palate where the fruit unfolds with panache. The tannins, already softened, frame the material with tact and offer a silky sensation. The finish, long and savory, stretches on cocoa, spice and black fruit notes, with a mouthwatering freshness that invites the next glass.

Serving temperature and tips

To present this Saint-Émilion at its aromatic best, aim for a serving temperature of 16–18°C. A careful decanting of around an hour, depending on your glassware, helps soften the structure further and reveal the spicy and chocolate nuances. The 2022 can be enjoyed now for its suppleness and fruit brightness. You may also cellar it under stable, dark conditions to allow the bouquet to gain complexity and the texture to harmonize over time.

Food pairings

• Appetizers : fine charcuterie, country terrine, Comté gougères.
• Starters : scrambled eggs with porcini, shallot tatin, herb chicken pie.
• Main courses : pink-roast duck breast, slowly braised hare stew, pork tenderloin with porcini, grilled beef with jus.
• Cheeses : selection of pressed and washed-rind cheeses, aged Comté, sheep's milk tomme, farmhouse Saint-Nectaire.
• Desserts : lightly sweet plum tart, spiced poached pears, moderate-sugar pairings to preserve the wine's freshness.

Moments to enjoy

Château Haut-Fonrazade 2022 is the ideal companion:

• To elevate a seasonal dinner where conversation finds its echo in the depth of the glass.
• At a game dinner, when brown sauces and mushrooms meet a noble, precise fruit.
• As a gift for an enthusiast, a bottle that speaks to both the heart and the memory of the place.

Characteristics

• Name : Château Haut-Fonrazade 2022, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP
• Appellation : Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP
• Type : Bordeaux red wine
• Vintage : 2022
• Grapes : Merlot, Cabernet Franc
• Alcohol by volume : Not disclosed
• Aging : Not disclosed
• Volume : 75 cl
• Cellaring : Drink now or cellar
• Serving temperature : 16–18°C