More from the Undeniable 2022s: Bordeaux's Vintage to Buy Now
Why 2022 Bordeaux Is Worth Buying Now
I have not tired of celebrating the success of the 2022 vintage, and I think that’ll be the case for collectors and wine lovers alike for years and years to come. The charm is in the warm vintage that was handled with precision, the accessibility and depth that doesn’t seem to lead to excess. Sure, the wines are young, and, while I think the sharpest selections do have relative value, they are priced alongside the best-evers of a given property. I think they deserve it, and for some of the best examples, getting them now will go a long way as the years pass.
At the top of my list is 2022 Laroque, St-Emilion $44.99 97DC 97JA 97JD 95WA 95VN, a wine that I will continue to shout from the hilltops about, and hope to have deep stocks in my collection for the years to come. The ability to marry the remarkable terroir, an undeniably Bordeaux character, with a weightless texture and remarkable depth…it’s no surprise that there are three (!) 97-point scores for this sub-$50 wine. Each one is well deserved for this next-level wine that I think is one of Bordeaux’s best buys in any vintage, but more so in 2022.
Next up is the 99-point 2022 Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan $59.99 99JD 97JS 96DC 96JA 95CK 95VN 95WE, which has been a long-time K&L favorite at this kind of pricing, but takes the quality into the stratosphere in 2022. The near-perfect mark belongs to Jeb Dunnuck, who had it alongside the signature vintage’s greats. Points aside, I find the refinement and depth of this one just otherworldly, a great example of Pessac gravel and minerality along a depth of fruit. It might not be as stoic or technical as Haut-Brion or La Mission, but I still think it’s pure Pessac joy at a fraction of the price.
2022 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien $69.99 97DC 97JD 96JA 96JS 96RP 96TWI 96VN 95WS is another one that I can’t get enough of in 2022. A wine that even the property admits was largely sold during en primeur, it is one that I usually grab whenever available, and a recent parcel gives us a wealth in what I consider to be one of St-Julien’s benchmark wines of the modern era. For me, it is a combination of refined texture, bright St-Julien character, and a level of detail that just defies its price point.
To be honest, professionally I find myself having to find some restraint buying the 2022s because of their relative youth, because beyond that, they have everything going for them. Personally, I can’t get enough of these wines, and it’s a vintage that I hope all collectors that are looking towards the mid-to-long term have a wealth of. Simply said, for those looking to find joy in Bordeaux, 2022 is the place to look.
- Ryan Moses, K&L Bordeaux Buyer
FAQs
Is 2022 a good Bordeaux vintage? Yes — a warm year handled with precision, producing wines with concentration, accessibility, and depth; K&L's Bordeaux buyer ranks it among the finest modern vintages.
What are the best value 2022 Bordeaux wines? K&L's buyer highlights 2022 Laroque (three 97-point scores, under $50), the 99-point Malartic-Lagravière at $59.99, and Branaire-Ducru at $69.99.
Should I buy 2022 Bordeaux now or wait? The wines are young, but the sharpest selections are priced fairly for their quality and are selling through — buying on release secures wines that will reward mid-to-long-term cellaring.