Château Mangot 2022

Aromas of sweet cherries, petals and licorice introduce the 2022 Château Mangot, a medium to full-bodied, dense and layered wine that's suave and multidimensional, its concentrated core of lively fruit built around sweet, powdery tannins. It's the finest Mangot I've tasted to date, and a decade from now, readers will have a lot of fun including this in blind tastings against more famous names.

Quite a fresh, mineral and lively St.-Emilion that hooks me with garden herbs, brambleberries and an engaging twist of white pepper. Lots of wet stones and flowers as well. Very structured and compact, this has vibrating, chalky tannins and a broad, lengthy finish. Tight and dense, but freshness and balance are in check. Drink from 2027.

Supple and quite tannic, the fleshy but cool tannins are at the fore, filling the mouth with cool salty blackcurrants that is really quite appealing. Unfussy with mineral markers and a good dose of black fruit with mouthwatering acidity. Well delivered but it's missing a bit more vibrancy and push of fruit. Serious, well controlled, precision is there in the bite and edges, it just needs the tannins to soften a little. Harvest 6 September-3 October. Ageing in French oak for 13-15 months, 25% new.