2022 Château Joanin Bécot, Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux

Livelier and more fragrant than in the past. Juicy fruit backed by firm but ripe tannins, the finish fresh.

Drink 2027-2035

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Joanin Becot has a deep purple-black color. It races out of the glass with vibrant notes of kirsch, black raspberries, and juicy black plums, leading to nuances of cinnamon stick, star anise, and dusty soil. Full-bodied, the palate is plush and soft-spoken, with lots of elegant, spicy accents and a fragrant finish.

Drink 2025-2040

The 2022 Joanin-Bécot is one of the best vintages I can remember tasting. Heady and explosive in the glass, the 2022 offers up copious red/purplish berry fruit, blood orange, spice, menthol and licorice all saturate the finish. This could be a Sleeper.

Drink 2025-2034

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from Juliette Bécot, the 2022 Joanin Bécot offers up aromas of dark berries, bay leaf, vine smoke and lilac. Medium to full-bodied, supple and incisive, it's a rich but vibrant wine that exhibits the potential of the Côtes de Castillon in vintages like this.

I loved the 2022 Château Joanin Bécot, which might be the finest vintage I've tasted from this château. Based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, harvested between the 15th and 26th of September and aged in 50% new barrels, it has a vivid purple hue as well as awesome aromatics of black raspberries, chalky minerality, and flowers. As with many of these top Castillon releases, it tastes like a top Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé and is medium to full-bodied, has ripe tannins, and terrific balance.

Full and fruity nose, expressive and ripe, nicely perfumed and expressive. Clean and clear, extremely mineral, graphite, pencil lead and flint stone notes on the palate alongside clear blue fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants and some red summer berries. Super smooth in terms of texture but also quite lean in terms of fruit flavour, this has bite and tang, a touch austere but also really quite juicy and floral too. Needs a bit of time, but feels precise and focussed with grip and intensity. I like the fruitiness, really quite upfront but keeping the liveness and energy. Succulent and nicely sweet touches with juicy acidity. Easy enjoyment, plush, mineral, all in balance. 3.6pH. 12% press wine. A yield of 39hl/ha.

Drink 2026-2044