Château Nénin 2022

Expressive, with ripe fruit, dark berries, cassis, black cherries, topped with a creamy touch and floral notes; rich palate, sweet, ripe fruit, full-bodied, dense yet elegant, excellent tannins, great length. Already en primeur, the wine impressed, and it does not disappoint in the bottle.

Aromas of plums, dark berries, tobacco leaf and violets introduce the 2022 Nenin, a medium- to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine that’s enveloping and pillowy, with good depth of fruit, sweet tannins and a suave, seamless profile. This blend of 64% Merlot and 36% Cabernet Franc is one of the finest Nenins produced in recent times.

This sports a high-gloss toast that has yet to be fully absorbed, resulting in a cloak of dried anise, warm vanilla and violet over a core of steeped plum, açaí and mulberry fruit. Fruitcake, graphite and apple wood notes frame the finish, which shows length and cut. There's polish and energy -- this just needs time to fully knit. Ambitious and impressive. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2040.

Intense and heady aromatics on the nose. Supple and bouncy, this has a full texture, almost chewy blackcurrant and black cherry fruit with high acidity alongside touches of cool mint and crushed stones. Still a little compact but I love the two-tone nature with freshness and depth – the finish is marked by sticky liquorice, black chocolate, espresso and cinnamon. Not yet showing its best but a captivating wine and well delivered.

The 2022 Nénin has a clean and well defined bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, leather and graphite, with just a little Left Bank style. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, very harmonious, with a lovely silky texture on the finish. Probably this will not need quite as much bottle age. Seductive. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Incense, flowers, espresso, smoke, and black cherries create the nose. There is intensity, richness, and opulence, along with a silky character to the fruits on the palate, as well as length and energy. Everything is in place here. The finish is full, concentrated, and lingering. The refreshing chocolate-minty character on the backend is simply fabulous. This is the best vintage of Nenin produced to date. The wine blends 64% Merlot and 36% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2045.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate rim brightening. Delicate red cherry fruit, hints of liquorice, nuances of cloves and orange zest. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherries, quite powerful, chocolaty, mineral-salty on the finish, long lasting, fine toasty aromas on the finish, already very well developed.

The 2022 Château Nenin is medium to full-bodied, with ripe blackcurrants, spice, leafy herbs, and chocolate aromatics, solid mid-palate depth, and polished, nicely integrated tannins. Elegant and balanced, it has a refined, structured feel and plenty of length. It should evolve well for 15+ years.

You can feel the structure and depth in the wine in this vintage, with Cabernet Franc doing the heavy lifting in terms of character and aromatics. Nuanced campfire and cold ash smoke, alongside concentrated blueberry and cassis, with graphite and peony. Nenin has an advantage in 2022 because it is always a little more serious and late ripening than some in Pomerol, with harvest September 1 to 23. 40% new oak. I was disappointed with this wine En Primeur, and this is an upscore.

A nose of great beauty, straight and mineral, evoking slate and cocoa, then floral notes. On the palate, a brilliant concentration of black fruits, wrapped in precise aromas of stone and graphite.

Hints of sweet spices define the bouquet, with notes of cinnamon complemented by nuances of elderberry, blackberry and licorice. On the palate, the wine stands out for its density, its fine-grained tannins and a subtle austerity that underpins the freshness and persistence of the finish. An elegant, subtle wine that shows great promise and highlights the care devoted to the estate in recent years. The wine is gaining in precision and density. A fine success.

Beautiful dark, purple color. Intense, refined, fruity, pure and subtle nose. A palate full of lovely pulp, with a very hedonistic feel and a fine flavor that floods the mouth, with fresh notes of cherry, blackberry and licorice. Long, melting finish with coated tannins. It’s very good. Blend: 64% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alcohol: 14.28% - pH: 3.63. Yield: 33 hl/ha.

This is a structured wine, with acidity and concentration. The juicy black plum flavors are allied to acidity, smooth tannins, and a rounded aftertaste on a dry core. Drink from 2028.