2022 Ch. Tronquoy-Lalande

The 2022 Tronquoy has turned out much better than I anticipated, bursting with aromas of dark berries, cassis, cigar box and nicely integrated new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and elegantly muscular palate that's dense and penetrating. This is well worth seeking out.

The 2022 Château Tronquoy is the finest vintage of this cuvée ever produced, offering fabulous aromatics of cassis, graphite, violets, flowers, chocolate, and earthy nuances. Full-bodied and beautifully rich and textured on the palate, with sweet tannins and a seamless, concentrated mouthfeel, it’s already hard to resist, and as I said from barrel, it shows the ripeness of the vintage while staying pure, balanced, and seamless. It’s going to benefit from just 4-6 years in the cellar and drink well for 25+ years.

The 2022 Tronquoy contains more Cabernet Sauvignon this year due to the low-yielding Merlot, resulting in an impressive Saint-Estèphe. It was an impressive Saint-Estèphe out of barrel. Now, it has a very intense bouquet of blackberry, raspberry coulis, wilted violets and a slight honeyed aroma. This is well defined, miles away from the Tronquoy I tasted a decade ago. The palate is medium-bodied and very balanced, with powdery tannins and a thread of salinity that gives it an estuarine personality. There's real character to this wine, though I suggest giving it three to five years in bottle before broaching. Excellent.