Hello all
Anyone tasted through the 22’s, or visited a domaine or two and would like to share some insights and opinions on this vintage?
I stock mainly Metras and Foillard, but i’m interested in hearing about other domaines too.
Sorry if it’s been talked over in a different thread, but I couldn’t find anything.
/Mads
I’ll leave general comments to those who have tasted more widely, but I’ve really enjoyed what I have tasted from Chateau Thivin (La Chapelle and Godefroy). Both pretty clearly the product of a warm vintage but i thought they had great balance.
I think Lapau also made lovely wines, on the more carbonic end of things.
Based on my limited experience (Foillard, Hoppenot, Rottiers, Roilette/Coudert, Lapierre Morgon N …) 2022 > 2021. 2022 richer in flavor (and ABV I suppose), 2021 lighter, more austere. I found some 2021s bland and lacking, well, everything.
The way I love my Bojo.
If I want rich dark fruit flavors and high ABV, I drink CdP.
Based on what I’ve read about 2022, I will skip it and continue stocking on 2021 as long as there are any available.
I was in Beaujolais two weeks ago and have been drinking the 2022s all spring. Not a comprehensive professional overview, but I find it a very charming vintage profile. Yes it is riper and rounder and more forward than 2021. But it’s not as ripe and hot as 18/19/20. It’s also less rich than 2023, which was an August heatwave. So in the modern scheme of things, it feels very charming and easy to like.
Similar to 2022 in Burgundy and Rhone.
Obviously all sorts of caveats in terms of personal preferences/buying habits/specific producers/vineyards/aging, etc.
I’ve just had some Roilette and Thivin from 2022 so far. From that small sample, I’d say the wines were softer and sweeter (perhaps less complex?) than what I remember from other recent warm vintages '(19 and '20). Earlier vintages needed a bit to harmonize, and maybe that still needs to happen with these, but it didn’t feel like the '22 profile for these two wines was going to be quite as satisfying to me.
Note that I do love many '21s for the cooler vintage, and so far I like '21 more than the '22s I’ve tried. That said, I love the '19s and '20s from Thivin, Foillard, Roilette, Bouland, etc. more than '21 overall (on average and based somewhat on longevity) and think that the wines will be great for a long time. I’m very excited to have all of them in my arsenal. That said, lots to enjoy, likely, from 2022, and it’s certainly still enjoyable and not bad stuff in any way. I could come around to other wines as I see what other makers did, but I’m more interested in previous vintages so far.
I can see that. I’m not stocking up on 22 Beaujolais. But, thus far, I’ve tended to enjoy them at this stage, as the profile has generally been easy and charming. (Again, with all the usual caveats…)
Of course there are many intersecting variables. The past two days I’ve been drinking bottles of 2022 Coudert Moulin a Vent and 2023 Coudert Brouilly. The 2022 MaV was the darker richer wine, which I enjoyed less than the 2023 Brouilly. BUT, that’s also a vineyard issue, because the 2023 MaV (tasted two weeks ago) was even more intense and rich than the 2022 MaV, and even less to my tastes.
This is also why i’m asking — there’s a whole lot of varition these days with the weather, and especially in '23.
I agree with the majority of you though, that cold vintage has a certain charm that the warm ones doesn’t have. I’ll pause the buying of the 22’s and take it side by side when i get the chance and see. Luckily there’s still some '21 on the market. And then I’ll tread very carefully with the 23 vintage.
If anyone else has some thoughts and small reviews please keep 'em coming! 