Château de Rochemorin Pessac-Léognan 2022

65% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot. Pessac-Léognan is an appellation which comes into its own in the most generous vintages - like 2022. There's often near parity between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot here (Merlot is on the front foot in this wine, its 65% complemented by 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 3 per cent Cabernet Franc), and the proximity of the forests to Pessac-Léognan mean that many of the best sites retain freshness even during heat-spike and drought conditions. This opaque black-red wine is packed with the tender-sweet black fruits and sweet floral seduction typical of the vintage; secondary complexities lie ahead. On the palate, it is soft, tender and ample, with Merlot turning on the charm. The Petit Verdot brings a little pepper and spice to the blend, and even the Cabernet in this wine is affable and unforbidding, just lending grandeur and resolve to the Merlot's charm. As with our St Emilion Best in Show, this is not a Pessac-Léognan that will demand extensive cellar ageing; its soft textures, balance and charm make it an ideal choice for the first decade following the vintage. (decanter.com,2025)