2022 Loudenne
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Tasting notes
Intense plum colour, there is good freshness here, along with sweet sun-ripened cassis and blueberry fruits, and smoked sandalwood. Lacks a little typicity and seems marked by the heat of the vintage, but the June hail was severe in the Loudenne area, meaning the yield is tiny, clocking in under 10hl/h. Christophe Guache is the new owner, and I would suggest this is not the best vintage to judge the changes to come at this property. 33% new oak, 225l and 500l in size, with the rest in one year old barrels, again in two sizes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Terre de Vins
More reviews and scores
Sleek and bright, juicy and ripe, with a cool refreshing grip to the liquorice, cola, tobacco and espresso-edged tannins. Really quite compact at this stage, a mouthful of tannins that doesn't deviate too far, but the initial fruit was bright and juicy and this has appealing density and chewiness with nuances of cola, vanilla, mint, crushed stone, aniseed and clove. Harvest 14 September - 4 October. Ageing 18 months; 33% new barrels (225L and 500L), 66% two wine (225L and 500L). Derenoncourt consultants.
The 2022 Château Loudenne is terrific and well worth seeking out. Based on 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, from vines just outside of Saint-Estèphe, it offers a deep ruby/purple hue as well as classic aromatics of darker currants, cassis, licorice, and violets, with just a kiss of background chocolaty oak. This medium-bodied, concentrated, impressive barrel sample has a layered, textured style that should drink nicely with just a few years of bottle age.
Opaque, deep color; both the nose and the palate are marked by the ageing, with intense oak. For this first organic-certified vintage, the concentration and tannic structure—both impressively rich—need a little more time to soften and round out. Clear potential.