Château Croix de Labrie Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2022 i trækasse ØKO

Bettane et Desseauve

Vert de Vin Magazine

Nice fresh nose, complex, tense, precise, elegant and which offers a certain straightness, a very nice controlled power as well as a nice width of the palette. It reveals notes of boysenberry, luscious/juicy raspberry and slight hints of blueberry associated with touches of violet, Bigarreau cherry, graphite, juicy/bright blueberry as well as fine hints of gray pepper, with a discreet hint of fresh blond tobacco, a hint of bergamot, rose and a subtle hint of nutmeg. The palate is fruity, balanced, dynamic, elegant and offers freshness, juiciness, nice definition, nice dimension, purity, good energy, finesse, precision, power in finesse , a tangy frame, density in finesse/accuracy as well as a stretched side. Nicely marked by its terroir. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy / pulpy blackberry, fleshy blackcurrant and slight hints of small bright red berries associated with a touch of Bigarreau cherry, fresh blueberry as well as discreet hints of graphite, cardamom, smoke as well as a fine saline hint, a very discreet sappy hint (in the background), a subtle salivating hint and sweet spices. Very nice persistence. A fine chew and a nice sapidity / sweetness on the finish. A wine that offers a nice “3-dimensional / complete” side.

Decanter

Blue fruits, vanilla, dark chocolate and plums on the nose. Vibrant and lively on the palate, smooth and really deliciously textured - not too heavy or too light, density is there in the fruit concentration but the balance of acidity and fine tannins is nicely supportive. Cool blue fruits are at the fore as well as tangy strawberries and raspberries, a sense of fun and ease about this with bite and tang to the fine but grippy tannins. Nicely detailed, you feel the edges here and the shape of the wine which has tension and focus. Not so demonstrably layered but generous and easy to enjoy with lovely mouthwatering acidity that is really appealing. Balanced and supremely finessed with a long length and fine tannins. Tasted twice and much preferred the second time. 3.44pH. 5.16ha vineyard worked organic and biodynamically on three sites; plateau of St Christophe des Bardes (harvest 14 & 15 September), bottom of the Pavie slopes (20 & 21 September) and the area Le Cateau (29 September). Ageing 80% barrels of 225l (70% new, 30% one wine old) and 20% large casks, foudre and demi-muids. Yield of 35hl/ha. Rolland & Associés consultants.

Terre de Vins

Jeb Dunnuck

I wouldn't be surprised to see the 2022 Chateau Croix De Labrie be the finest vintage to date from this team. Checking in as a blend of 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Cabernet Franc, this stunning wine offers a vivid purple hue as well as a classy perfume of cassis and black raspberries interwoven with spring flowers, violets, camphor, and crushed stone. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has incredible purity and precision while still bringing serious richness and depth. It's going to flirt with perfection in 7-8 years and keep for 2-3 decades. Bravo.

The Wine Independent

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Croix de Labrie bursts from the glass with vivacious notes of red currant jelly, baked black plums, blueberry compote, and tilled soil, leading to hints of unsmoked cigars, bay leaves, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is light on its feet with impressive tension and loads of bright red and black berry layers, finishing long and mineral laced. The blend this year is 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Cabernet Franc.

James Suckling

An incredible young wine that shows fantastic chalk and stone character on both the nose and palate. It’s full but super racy and intense, with a freshness and dryness that is very unique. Oyster shell and iodine character at the end. Salt and white pepper in the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. From organically grown grapes.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Inky in color, the wine exudes flowers, blackberries, boysenberries, mint, smoke, licorice, and black cherries with touches of chocolate. Here you find a blend of concentration, opulence, freshness, and silkiness. The wine is lush, and deep, with layers of ripe, sweet, black cherries, salty plums, peppery spices, and licorice. The wine is produced, and bottled with extremely low levels of sulfur. You can enjoy this young, or age it for more complexity, The wine blends 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Cabernet Franc. This is the first vintage with this much Cabernet in the blend. 14.5% ABV. 3.4 pH. The yields were 35 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2026-2050

Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, inky, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate lightening of the edges. Fresh plums, dark berries, a hint of nougat and precious wood, delicate spices. Powerful, full-bodied, ripe heart cherries, integrated tannins, good freshness, mineral and persistent, reliable aging potential.

Jane Anson

Powerfully vibrant in colour and character, clear Cabernet Franc imprint with its fragrant raspberry leaf and violet aromatics. Ripe berry fruits delivered with finesse, given added succulence and juice by mandarin peel, orange marmalade, lemongrass and slate. This is quality with a limestone fingerprint. First year Grand Cru Classé. 3.44ph, 35hl/h yield, 80% barrels (70% new oak), 20% large sized casks, certified organic and biodynamic.

The Drinks Business

(St Emilion; 84% Merlot; 10% Cabernet Sauvignon; 6% Cabernet Franc; a final yield of 35 hl/ha; pH 3.44; aging in a combination of oak barrels with some larger format oak and even foudres; 14.5% alcohol; tasted three times, the second time at l’Association des Grands Crus Classés de St Emilion at Dassault and then again with Pierre Courdurié at the property). It’s the work in the vineyard that is so crucial to the quality of the wine here – perhaps the healthiest looking vineyard in the region and you taste it. Black cherry, bramble, blackberry and blueberry – all incredibly pure – and those lovely subtle violet hints. There’s lots of graphite, a little walnut shell, a lovely leafy cassis note, black peppercorns, Szechuan peppercorns and a fresh grating of expensive dark chocolate; a touch of patchouli and incense too. This exudes class and quality and richly deserves its new place amongst the grands crus classés on this (and, indeed, all recent) showing(s). Above all, a wine that sings of the health of its vineyard. It builds and builds and builds in the glass with incredibly purity and a shimmering bright crystalline fruit – as much blackcurrant now as black cherry. And the finish is incredible – so pure and clean and fresh and tapering all the way to the distant horizon. It leaves just a lovely cherry skin taste and texture (the finest hint of the finest tannins) and a delicate note of lilac and violet. A wine of great poise, balance and harmony – it just feels so natural, so energetic, so vivid. 96-98.

Markus del Monego MW

Alexandre Ma

Remarkably, the pH value of Château Croix de Labrie 2022 is even lower than that of the 2021 vintage, a testament to Axelle's exceptional vineyard management skills. As the intense toasty notes recede, the fruity contours become increasingly vivid, and upon swirling, the crisp sour dates and plum juice is accentuated, accompanied by a delicate waft of rose petals on the palate. Due to the lower pH value, the tannins are more pronounced in the En Primeur stage, but the structure will become smoother with age. In contrast to the Château Croix de Labrie of pre-2019 vintages, which exudes a horizontal, sweet character, the 2022 vintage presents a vertical, savory dimension.

Tastingbook.com

Bettane & Desseauve