The 2022 Chateau Margaux obliged reams of superlatives from barrel. Now in bottle, it is a stone-cold breathtaking First Growth that belongs on the mantelpiece alongside the 1959 and 1983. That said, at first, the aromatics are bashful, yet it takes little to unfurl in jaw-dropping fashion, armed with heavenly pure black fruits laced with peony and iris flower and exuding mineralite (which is a mighty achievement given the season). The palate is imbued with stunning pixelation. There is a little more structure than I recall—an enthralling sense of architecture and thrilling tension, the pH of around 3.65 imparting acidic spine. Winemaker Philippe Bascaule remarked that he cannot compare the 2022 to another vintage. This is a profound Chateau Margaux that sets a contemporary benchmark. 100 points

The 2022 Chateau Margaux is a total hedonistic turn-on. Soaring Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics are immediately arresting. A wine of depth and stature, Chateau Margaux is a total stunner in 2022. Dark-toned fruit, graphite, lavender, licorice and spice soar from the glass. There`s gorgeous presence and mind-blowing balance to behold here. Chateau Margaux is always an aristocratic wine. In 2022, it is all that and more. Richness, power and finesse are rarely this profound. The team led by Technical Director Philippe Bascaules opted for shorter macerations than the norm (12-21 days as opposed to 15-28) as a precaution given the tiny size of the berries, which were about 35% smaller than in most years. 99 points

Stunning in its density and construction, with a gorgeous balance that starts with red rose aromatics and slides into creamy and intense raspberry, damson, loganberry and cassis fruits. The intense structure of the vintage is on display, here with velvety tannins giving shape and contrast by a push and pull of slate, graphite, cloves, turmeric, cardamom and white pepper. Bitter dark chocolate ending, a character of the year but here delivered with a blast of cooling mint leaf. Philippe Bascaules director, harvest September 8 to 27, 25hl/h yield. 100% new oak, to be monitored carefully over ageing because this is the first time they have seen this level of alcohol in the Cabernet Sauvignon. 40% of the crop is into this 1st wine, one of the highest in years. Harvest September 8 to 27. They are slowly changing the row orientation in the vineyard at Margaux, begun last year but a 50 year project, and introducing more Cabernet Franc through field grafting (wanting to get up to maybe 15% of plantings, currently 5%). 98-100 points

A blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, 2022 Chateau Margaux is one of the most powerful wines ever produced at this estate, wafting from the glass with aromas of creme de cassis, dark berries, violets, burning embers, smoked tea and exotic spices. Full-bodied, deep and layered, it`s rich, velvety and seamless, with a bright core of fruit and a long, heady finish. With the highest analytical measure of tannins since 2010, and an alcohol level a touch above 14%, this is certainly a larger-scaled Chateau Margaux, yet at this early stage, everything appears to be kept in check. 96-97+ points