Chateau de Camensac 2022

Dark-fruited, cool, finely spiced with a hint of green bell pepper; balanced on the palate, delicate fruit, slightly drying tannins, licorice on the finish.

Lively and crisp, this has a lovely bounce and sense of energy, with notes of strawberry, raspberry and cherry. Really focused on the fruit rather than the texture of the tannins or any kind of heat and spice, though they accent the finish softly. Ripe and full, but friendly and approachable. A good buy.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. Cask sample. Aromatically reserved. A hint of blackcurrant leaf. Dry and savoury with marked, chalky freshness. Feels like there’s a bit of limestone terroir? Chewy finish. Correct but a little abrasive. (JL)

The 2022 de Camensac has quite a high-toned bouquet with pure black cherry and blueberry fruit. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, fleshy, low acidity and a weighty finish that lacks a bit of complexity. Not as good as the bottle tasted a year ago. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Currants, blackberries, cedar and tobacco leaf work perfectly here. The wine has ample fruit and freshness with a savory edge to the currant and cranberry finish. A year or two in the cellar will add even more to the wine. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle ochre rim. Somewhat restrained on the nose, with a delicate herbal savouriness, nuances of dark cherries and a hint of nougat. Medium-bodied, dark fruits of the forest, quite loosely knit, ripe tannins and medium length. Offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure, a little too little in view of the excellent vintage. (25/1, PM).

Smoky red and black fruits, spicy oak, and leafy tobacco notes shine in the 2022 Château De Camensac, a medium-bodied, concentrated 2022 that has ripe yet building tannins, solid balance, and outstanding length. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot, from gravelly soils, and there were over 16,000 cases produced.

Impressive intensity, and you can see the work that has been going on at Camensac over the past decade brought out by the success of 2022. Has a chalky edge to the tannins, combined with slim rosebud florals, tight through the opening then softens to damson, soft crayon and grilled caramel. Tasted in recent château vertical also, same score. Villars-Foubet and Merlaut owners, harvest September 8 to 27.

Restrained nose, with fairly straightforward dark-fruit aromas. The palate charms with its refinement, gradually revealing its fruit before blossoming into a juicy finish lifted by a touch of toast.

Distinctly marked by oak, the bouquet reveals notes of caramel, cinnamon and licorice, complemented by a touch of blueberries and some candied nuances. Medium in density, the wine impresses with its balance, its smooth, well-integrated tannins, and the resulting vigor. A harmonious wine that can be enjoyed in its youth.

The nose is relatively aromatic, airy, and racy, with a delicate velvety touch to its power. It reveals notes of boysenberry, wild blackcurrant, and, more subtly, dry gravel, joined by hints of camphor, as well as touches of cornflower, vanilla, toast, and a subtle note of sweet pepper. On the palate, the wine is beautifully handled—supple, fresh, racy—with gourmandise, a certain delicacy, precision, and a mineral backbone. It expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackcurrant, crushed blackberry, and, more lightly, crushed raspberry, accented by hints of cornflower, licorice, sweet blond tobacco, and fine undertones of chocolate. Good length. The tannins are plush and racy, indulgent and well guided. This wine offers suppleness and minerality with a chiselled edge. The tannins are precise and convey a certain uprightness. The finish is iodized/sapid and elongated.

A lovely surprise in bottle, this Camensac 2022 proves to be flavorful, full of charm and verve. At the en primeur tasting, we noted “a slight firmness on the finish that should mellow out”; that is exactly the case and, indeed, everything is now well smoothed and integrated in this wine, which wears its Médoc character beautifully.