Château Haut-Simard 2022

With 70% Cabernet Franc, the wine shows dark and red berries along with a splendid spicy note; taut palate, crisp, perfectly ripe fruit, fine tannins, plenty of freshness, top length. Glorious quality for the price.

Cabernet on the nose—stalky, green bell pepper, blackcurrants, a hint of floral notes and purple fruit. Slightly thicker and with more layers than Fonbel, supple and complex with juicy cherries and liquorice, yet graceful and never over the top. The structure is there, round and broad; this is a big wine but elegant and polished around the edges. Broad yet lively, with a real undercurrent of flint and cool liquorice. pH 3.79.

Flamboyant fruit for this chateau with lots of crushed blueberry and cherry character that follows through to a medium body with creamy, fine tannins and a lovely finish. Traditional and attractive. Drink after 2027.

The 2022 Haut-Simard is an explosive wine. A burst of dark red cherry/red plum, mocha, new leather and rose petal hits the palate. Vibrant and exuberant, the 2022 just needs a few years in bottle to fully come together, although it is pretty impressive today. Haut-Simard is the hidden gem in the Vauthier range this year.

All of the Cabernet Franc, a record-setting 70%, defines the wine. With the floral nose, elegant textures, and minty-fresh mid-palate and finish, this is the best Haut-Simard ever produced. Drink from 2025–2040.

Dark ruby garnet colour with purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicate orange zest, hints of nougat and red heart cherries, inviting fruit. Juicy, elegant, red berries, fresh and mineral, finesse, seems almost light-footed, ripe tannins are in the background, salty finish.

Made from 70% Cabernet Franc and 30% Merlot, the 2022 Château Haut-Simard brings a serious, beautifully structured profile in its classic black cherry and mulberry-like fruit as well as notes of iron, scorched earth, and wood smoke. It's concentrated and has beautiful tannins and integrated acidity. It deserves 3-5 years of bottle age and will evolve through 2047 in cold cellars.

A ton of supple, spiced dark berry fruit, enticing gunsmoke, great quality. Not sold En Primeur, so this is the first time on the market. Last year of organic conversion, Thierry Lezin, cellar master.

An exuberant bouquet of flowers, with soft iris and rose petals—both aromatic and elegant. The palate follows suit: balanced, appetizing, with a flowing texture and a savory taste. A delight.

The harmony already shown during the en primeur tastings remains just as evident. It opens up fine prospects devoted to pleasure, sapidity, and delights. Dense and slightly suave on the attack, the wine is indulgent, compact, and driven by velvety, powerful tannins that lend a refreshing austerity. A sapid and beneficial wine.

Deep, intense colour. Very aromatic nose, fine, fruity and subtle. Precise on the attack, refined on the palate, with plenty of flavour (70% Cabernet Franc), the wine melts into a finish with a noble texture and fine grain. It’s very good. Supervised and vinified by the Ausone team. Vauthier property.