Bordeaux 2022 Cru Bourgeois: Médoc
This three-part report on the Cru Bourgeois wines of the 2022 vintage concludes with the wines of the Médoc appellation, following two reports on the 2022 Médoc Communes and 2022 Haut-Médoc wines.
It is perhaps easy to dismiss the châteaux of the Médoc appellation as the poor cousins of those further south, in the Haut-Médoc and the Médoc Communes. While it is correct that unlike its peers this appellation has no properties ranked at the Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel level, it would be a mistake to ignore this corner of the Bordeaux region. There are some extremely solid names in this region, including Clos Manou and Château Potensac (to name two properties I have followed over the years which, admittedly, do not deign to engage with the Cru Bourgeois classification) as well as Château La Tour de By and Château Fleur La Mothe (to name two which do).
Indeed, looking through my notes and scores presented below, there is certainly a less feverish feel to them compared to the previous two instalments. There are some good options here though, which will appeal especially to those looking for young Bordeaux produced in the more traditional style. The cool vineyards of the Médoc, not infrequently swept by salty sea breezes, are known for turning out wines with a more leafy and minty sense of freshness. Even with the ripe maturity of the 2022 vintage, some of this breezy bravado still comes through.
