A Challenging Yet Favourable Climate

The 2022 vintage in Bordeaux was marked by particularly hot and dry weather, punctuated by intense heatwaves. These conditions directly influenced the vine's vegetative cycle. The Merlot harvest, for instance, began as early as mid-September, followed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. These conditions demanded constant adaptation in vineyard management, ultimately yielding grapes with magnificent concentration.

Remarkable Wines in Every Category

Chiselled Whites and Promising Sweet Wines

Despite the heat, the 2022 white wines stand out for their freshness and precision. Their aromatic potential was preserved, offering chiselled and expressive wines. For sweet white wines, the warm conditions allowed for excellent sugar concentration, although achieving balance with acidity proved to be a challenge for some estates.

Characterful and Elegant Reds

The red wines of this sun-drenched, starred vintage are distinguished by remarkable depth and a silky texture. The Merlots reveal expressive fruit and supple tannins, while the Cabernet Francs and Cabernet Sauvignons provide structure and elegance. Aromatic concentration, combined with a lovely mineral freshness, gives these wines a balanced profile with great ageing potential. At Château Cazebonne, the Grand Vin 2022—a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc—perfectly exemplifies this balance, receiving a 92/100 score from the RVF. Cuvées such as Synergie 2022, blending amphora-aged Cabernet Franc and Merlot, have also been widely praised for their generosity and silky tannins.

The 2022 Vintage at Château Cazebonne

The 2022 vintage marks a milestone for Château Cazebonne, earning its first star in the RVF's Guide des meilleurs vins de France 2024. This recognition highlights the estate's biodynamic approach and pursuit of terroir expression. This year's harvest began as early as 26 August for Bouché, continued on 1 September with Sémillon, 14 September for the Merlot de Peyron, and included forgotten grape varieties such as Mancin on 22 September and Castets on 27 September, concluding with certain Cabernet Franc parcels on 6 October and Cabernet Sauvignon on 13 October. The resulting wines, such as the Grand Vin rouge 2022 and the Les Galets 2022 cuvée, reflect this philosophy, combining a focus on historic grape varieties with precise vinification and diverse ageing methods in barrels, amphorae or vats.

At Château Cazebonne, we are dedicated to reviving Bordeaux's viticultural heritage by replanting ancient and indigenous grape varieties that had vanished from the region. This long-term endeavour is made possible by the support of wine enthusiasts who share our passion and embrace our cuvées. To learn more about the fascinating history of Bordeaux grape varieties, feel free to download our book. You can also test your knowledge with our wine quizzes, and of course, discover our entire range of biodynamic wines directly on our online shop.