The 2022 vintage will go down in Bordeaux history as an exceptional year, marked by generous sunshine and high temperatures. While these conditions demanded heightened vigilance from winegrowers, they shaped wines of remarkable richness and concentration. At Château Cazebonne, awarded one star in the prestigious Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France (RVF) in recognition of our qualitative approach, we embraced this vintage with a philosophy firmly geared towards balance, underpinned by our commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture.

Our living soils and healthy vines demonstrated tremendous resilience in the face of climatic challenges, preserving the natural acidity essential to the wines' freshness, even beneath a blazing sun. The 2022 Cazebonne cuvées are distinguished by:

• Optimal ripeness, offering intense aromatic richness and concentrated fruit.
• Pure, vibrant fruit, with expressive aromas of ripe fruit across both our whites and reds.
• Remarkable balance, where the generosity of the vintage is offset by a vital freshness, ensuring harmony and drinkability.
• Silky textures in the reds, with ripe, enveloping tannins, and a lovely breadth in our whites.

Introducing the Flagship 2022 Cuvées

The 2022 vintage at Château Cazebonne offers a diverse range, reflecting the richness and character of the terroirs and grape varieties we cultivate with passion. Each of our cuvées is a faithful expression of this solar year, crafted with meticulous care to reveal its unique personality.

An Exceptional 2022 Vintage for Graves

The 2022 vintage in Bordeaux was remarkable in its climate. A mild spring fostered early budburst and even flowering. The summer, hot and dry though punctuated by timely rainfall, allowed for optimal grape ripening, bringing concentrated aromas and silky tannins to the reds. The whites retained a balanced acidity, a guarantee of freshness and complexity. These conditions contributed to a vintage of outstanding quality for Graves wines.

The Influence of Our Terroir on 2022 Graves Wines

The Graves terroir, renowned for its gravel and pebble soils, played a crucial role in the quality of the 2022 vintage, enabling our vines to delve deep for moisture to withstand water stress. This geological identity imparts a distinctive minerality and an elegant structure to our wines, especially prized in hot conditions. Our organic and biodynamic approach further enhances the expression of this unique terroir.

Vinification and Maturation Methods for Our 2022s

The vinification of our 2022 cuvées was tailored to preserve the purest expression of fruit and the natural balance achieved in the vineyard (living wine). For our red wines, gentle extraction was favoured, followed by ageing in tanks or lightly toasted oak barrels, allowing the tannins to refine and the aromas to evolve harmoniously. Our whites benefited from parcel-by-parcel vinification and ageing on fine lees to enhance their aromatic complexity and roundness. Every step, from pressing to bottling, is carried out with precision.

Tasting Profile of 2022 Graves Wines

The 2022 red wines from Château Cazebonne reveal an intense colour and aromas of ripe black fruits, blackcurrant, and subtle spicy nuances. On the palate, they display fine structure, velvety tannins, and a long, persistent finish. The whites offer an expressive nose of exotic fruits, citrus, and white blossom. The palate is fresh and lively, with delightful minerality and generous weight. The orange wine, La Macération 2022, captivates with notes of dried apricot, orange zest, and a delicate touch of bitterness on the finish, resulting from prolonged skin maceration.

Food and Wine Pairings to Enhance the 2022 Cuvées

To complement our 2022 Graves wines, we suggest the following pairings to highlight their richness and balance:

• Le Blanc de Cazebonne 2022 will pair wonderfully with grilled seafood, an asparagus risotto, or a platter of fresh goat's cheeses.
• La Macération 2022, our orange wine, makes an excellent partner for spiced dishes, world cuisine (Indian, Thai), or mature cheeses. (What food pairings work best with an orange wine?)
• Our 2022 reds will pair beautifully with grilled or roasted red meats, duck breast, or rich stews.
• Our 2022 Pet'Nats, refreshing and approachable, are ideal as an aperitif or alongside fruit-based desserts. (What food pairings work best with a Pet'Nat?)

Where to Buy 2022 Graves Wines

To fully appreciate the expression of this solar vintage and discover our complete 2022 range, our cuvées are available to purchase directly from the estate or via our online shop. Buying direct from the estate guarantees you the best terms and personalised guidance on finding the best Graves wines.

The Cazebonne Vision Beyond the 2022 Vintage

The 2022 vintage was also immensely educational for our young parcels dedicated to "forgotten grape varieties". This replanting work in Bordeaux, as highlighted by Jean-Baptiste Duquesne in his book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages", is an ambitious endeavour made possible by the steadfast support of wine enthusiasts who have embraced our wines. Your trust enables us to keep innovating and preserving this precious viticultural heritage. We invite you to discover the rich history of Bordeaux viticulture by downloading the digital edition of the book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages" or testing your knowledge with our wine quizzes, before exploring our exceptional wines through our online boutique.