Château Couhins-Lurton 2022

Herb-spiced, playful, ginger, tea, complex bouquet; round and soft on the attack, powdery, very pronounced tannins, lively acidity, the high alcohol is not perceptible, despite its richness the wine remains elegant; red-fruited, floral finish.

Confirming my en primeur expectations, the 2022 Couhins-Lurton wafts from the glass with aromas of peony, lilac, cherries and spices. Medium to full-bodied, layered and textured, it's elegant and fresh with good depth at the core and powdery tannins, concluding with a long, delicate finish. This is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Slightly high-pitched, with bright mulberry and cherry fruit laced with red licorice and iris notes. The sleek finish shows a sanguine twinge amid its fruit. Pretty. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2033. 1,900 cases made, 100 cases imported.

Warm, sun-kissed fruit and toasted spices on the nose. Rich, concentrated fruit—clearly ripe, but more red-fruited—with high acidity giving a buzz and tang to the expression, almost like citrus sherbet. Clean and precise, both filling and lively, with a crisp finish full of strawberries, blueberries, cold licorice, slate, and mint. This has relaxed a little since the Primeurs but kept the bite and interest. Very yummy, and you don’t feel the 15% alcohol, though the number alone may put some off.

Sample taken 21 April, four days previously. Cask sample. Bright crimson. Fresh, sappy fruit. Sleek and easy but without enormous depth or subtlety. Bone-dry, slightly austere finish. (JR)

The 2022 Couhin-Lurton does not have the lift or vigour of the La Garde: quite austere and missing some brightness and vivacity. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, supple in the mouth, and fine acidity with a pleasing edginess. Maybe the aromatics have just closed down for a phase because the palate is much more promising. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Smoke, truffle, cigar box, and black cherries with a blast of cocoa show in the perfume. The palate is even better with its soft, silky, fresh, and polished layers of lush, sweet, ripe, but not overripe dark red fruits, spice, and cocoa. This should be delicious to taste, just about on release. This is showing better in the bottle than it did in the barrel, which is always a good sign. The wine blends 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2026–2040.

Deep ruby garnet colour, purple reflections, subtle ochre rim. Ripe red forest berry confit, delicate floral nuances, notes of morello cherries, a hint of orange zest. Juicy, ripe morello cherries also on the palate, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lively and persistent, sweet fruit on the finish, a charming food wine. (1/2025, PM).

Based on 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from gravelly soils, the 2022 Château Couhins-Lurton was vinified using a mix of vessels, including wooden tanks, 500-liter barrels, and sandstone amphora. Aged for 12 months in 50% new barrels, it’s sweetly fruited, round, and lush, with blackcurrants, mulberries, spicy oak, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and structured, it has sweet tannins and a great finish. It’s a beautiful, incredibly satisfying Pessac to drink any time over the coming two decades or so.

An excellent wine, well made, carefully constructed, with plenty of tannic grip and lift, but there is a clear flash of heat that detracts from the berry fruit, balanced by slate and pencil-like tannins.

A rich, straightforward nose with authentic, charming black-fruit aromas. These notes carry through to a languorous palate with fruity, iris-like floral aromas. You feel relaxed, as after a massage. What a gift!

This is a vibrant sensory experience. On the palate, it is a lively wine, both ripe and intensely fruity, where juicy, sanguine notes mingle with a tonic energy. Its remarkable vertical structure lends it great depth, while its explosive character unfolds into an elegant, persistent finish.

This small estate, classified as one of the Cru Classé de Graves, has yielded this big, rich wine. With its dark coffee aroma and spicy tannins, it has density and structure. These are cushioned by the rounded blackberry flavor and the succulent texture. Drink from 2028.