Château de Fieuzal Pessac-Léognan rouge 2022 - Grand Cru Classé

This estate was long renowned first for its white wine—one of the most well-rounded in Léognan—and later for its red as well, which, at its best, is one of the most brilliant examples of the Pessac-Léognan character. The past decade has marked a return to the highest level of quality for Fieuzal’s white wine. The new, state-of-the-art cellars—equipped with numerous small tanks of various sizes, made of concrete, stainless steel, or wood—now allow Stephen Carrier, the director, to craft wines with the precision of haute couture.

Fieuzal 2022 exceeds all expectations, offering a fragrant bouquet of violets, irises, dark wild berries, and flowers. Beautifully structured, harmonious, and complex, it gains depth through aging, revealing a heart of lush fruit and an enveloping palate, supported by velvety, soft tannins. The finish is long, light, and fresh. This blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot is one of my favorite wines from Pessac-Léognan. It offers great aging potential and should improve with time. 2027–2042

 

This classified growth, located in the very south of Léognan, produced some of Bordeaux’s greatest white wines in the 1980s. After being sold to Banque Populaire in 1994, Fieuzal’s fortunes declined until 2001. That was the year Irish businessman Lochlann Quinn acquired the estate and hired Stephen Carrier, originally from Champagne, as its director. From then on, the estate regained its excellent standing, with a clear focus on body, structure, and tannic elegance in the reds, and—with the arrival of consultant Thomas Duclos—freshness as well. With some setbacks (2013) and great successes (2008), the whites are gradually regaining their full-bodied, intense character and aging potential.

A captivating, intoxicating nose, like the end of a day heavy with the heady scent of flowers, with notes of tuberose and very ripe red berries. On the palate, it’s a warm embrace, with pure, ripe fruit featuring pink and red hues. A lovely freshness energizes the finish, marked by notes of coffee and a delicately grainy texture. 2028–2050

The nose is very expressive at first, with a fruity and rich character. Notes of blackcurrant, strawberry, and blueberry unfold with richness and elegance. The soft attack on the palate, with very fine, silky tannins, is marked by notes of black fruits, a lovely hint of cedar, and a touch of violet. A very well-crafted, meticulously assembled vintage. A wine with real class!

An eye for detail, precision, and subtlety sets the tone for the definition of Fieuzal 2022. The wine pays little heed to the vintage; its sole focus is its terroir, with a mission to highlight and bring out its best qualities. Even when tempted by opulence, it quickly regains its composure to preserve the crescendo it is capable of unfolding as the minutes pass. Thus, the nuances of eucalyptus and blackcurrant yield the stage only when more relevant aromas emerge, such as notes of peonies, graphite, and red currants. On the palate, the wine focuses on freshness, finesse, rigor, and precision. It bridges the gap between softness and austerity, between fullness and vigor, between delight and challenge. A savory, mouth-watering, authentic wine that will delight many palates for decades to come. It doesn’t shine because of what it could be, but because of what it is capable of delivering 100%! For me, this is undoubtedly the greatest Fieuzal I’ve ever tasted. 2027–2047

The nose is elegant, fresh, refined, subtly juicy, and peppery, with a subtle, elegant austerity and a hint of herbal infusion. It reveals notes of vibrant Boysenberry, wild black berries, and, more subtly, black pepper...