Dressed in the elegance of the finest right-bank terroirs, the Château Montlabert Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion 2022 unfolds a composition of great refinement, where the nobility of fruit meets the depth of limestone. A true ode to Bordeaux know-how, this luminous vintage magnifies the Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, yielding a wine with a well-defined profile, vibrant with ripeness and energy. On the palate, it delivers that unmistakable sense of purpose found in landmark cuvées, those that convey the signature of a place and the hand of exacting craftsmanship without exaggeration. For the discerning enthusiast, it promises an intense red with a refined mouthfeel that supports without overpowering. For the attentive host, it is the reliable companion to carefully prepared dinners, a wine that speaks of hospitality in the language of nuance. In line with the great successes of 2022, it marries flesh and freshness, density and clarity, offering immediate pleasure while suggesting good ageing potential. This bottle is not a mere table accessory; it is an invitation to a suspended moment, to conversation that stretches out, to the art of entertaining that whispers rather than shouts.

Blend and vinification

In Saint-Émilion, balance often emerges from the dialogue between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The former brings generous flesh, velvety textures and ripe red-fruit notes. The latter frames the structure, refines the grain and releases aromas of violet and fine spice. In 2022, optimal grape ripeness produced concentrated berries, rich in aroma while preserving a freshness essential to the wine's length. The clay-limestone soils, so characteristic of the plateau and slopes of the appellation, contribute minerality and help build the palate's verticality. Vinification, carried out with precision, seeks fruit purity and terroir expression, favouring measured extraction, delicate tannins and overall harmony. Without ever overworking the wine, élevage accompanies and polishes, preserving aromatic brilliance and the nobility of perfectly ripe material, in the service of timeless elegance.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Deep garnet with purple highlights, bright and dense, subtly catching the light. Clarity and visual concentration announce a solid structure and controlled extraction.
• Nose : Expressive and nuanced, it opens on a basket of ripe red and black fruits, cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry, delicately lifted by peony, sweet licorice and a hint of graphite. With aeration come notes of light tobacco leaf and a chalky minerality that signs the terroir.
• Palate : A caressing attack, a broad mid-palate woven with silky tannins. Density combines with a lively, sapid freshness that lengthens the finish. The fruit remains pure and precise, while the clay-limestone minerality brings a delicate relief, for an elegant and sincere persistence.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve this Grand Cru Classé between 16 and 18°C in large wine glasses to enhance its aromas and soften the texture. A 30-minute prior aeration allows the aromas to unfold easily without compromising the bouquet’s finesse. At a carefully laid table, ensure a temperate room and attentive service that accompanies the wine's gradual opening. Store bottles away from light, lying down, in a cool and stable cellar to preserve the colour and the delicacy of the aromas.

Food pairings

• Refined starters : game terrine with berries, aged beef carpaccio, spiced pâté en croûte.
• Full-flavoured mains : roast veal chop, herb-crusted rack of lamb, slowly braised beef chuck.
• Regional cuisine : free-range poultry with rich jus, sautéed porcini, truffled gratin dauphinois.
• Cheese : mature comté, sheep's tomme, lightly matured Brie de Meaux so as not to overpower the fine tannic structure.
• Sweet finish : spiced poached pear, low-sugar dark chocolate, stewed black fruits.

Tasting occasions

Château Montlabert 2022 accompanies moments where every detail counts and where plate and glass are meant to converse with balance and brilliance. It is equally at ease during a dinner designed as a tasting journey or in a more intimate pause when the desire to share a fine red naturally arises.

• To elevate a dinner for connoisseurs, where conversation blends with perfectly matched pairings.
• For a celebrated occasion handled with elegance, for a table that says the essential without excess.
• As a carefully chosen gift for a Bordeaux enthusiast seeking authenticity and definition.

Details

• Name : Château Montlabert Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion 2022
• Appellation : Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé AOP
• Type : Bordeaux red wine
• Vintage : 2022
• Grapes : Merlot, Cabernet Franc
• Terroir : Clay-limestone soils
• Alcohol by volume : 14.5%
• Style : Silky structure, red and black fruit, elegant finish
• Vintage rating : 91/100
• Reference : CAV-VROUGE-CHATEAU-MONTLABERT-2022