This is extremely long and polished with beautiful silky tannins that keep rolling down the palate. Medium-bodied, it shows currants, blackberries, minerals and crushed stones. Crunchy. Such finesse and structure at the same time. An honest and transparent wine with greatness. Drink after 2029.

Medium to full intensity, clear depth of colour as is typical in the vintage, but with lovely soft ruby nuances throughout, this is still young, more folded in on itself than many wines in 2022, has character and finesse, and ability to age, one to recommend. Maintains estate signature, and is packed with sage and clove spices, touches of incense, toast, olive paste and crayon. 40hl/h yield, 40th harvest of Olivier Bernard.

The grand vin from the Bernard family is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc, and the élevage was in 35% new oak barrels, although there is also a growing percentage of oak foudres in use here. A finely poised nose, exuding dark fruit in a classy style, blackcurrant, blackberry and liquorice wrapped up with notes of tar, rose petals, white peach and vanilla flowers, infused with a little toasted richness from the oak. The palate holds together very well, showing a restrained texture, controlled by the midpalate’s structure, with fine tannins all beautifully knit together, and a fresh acidity which gives it a real sense of lift. Plenty of primary grip and dark primary flavours here, but real harmony and integration, and it is long too, with fabulously ripe tannins. This will need plenty of time to come good but it will be very fine when it gets there.