2022 Lespault Martillac

Red and black fruits, spicy wood, and savory, floral, tobacco-like nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château Lespault-Martillac, a pretty, medium-bodied Pessac that has sweet, integrated tannins, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. I love it today, yet it should have a solid 15+ years of prime drinking ahead of it. The 2022 is 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, all aged 18 months in 35% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels.

The 2022 Lespault-Martillac has developed nicely on the nose since I tasted it from barrel. It has quite exuberant blackberry and blueberry fruit tones that become more floral with fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied and lightly spiced, with finely chiseled tannins, a dash of black pepper and impressive weight with a clean and peppery finish. This has good potential.

Attractive aromatics, bring you seamlessly in to the body of the wine. This is a Pessac that flies under the radar, but it's the same team as Domaine de Chevalier, and it's a real insider's Left Bank, one to look out for in the vintage. Damson and black cherry fruit, ripe but measured, as is the case across the whole stable. Good stuff, a value pick.