Château Lespault-Martillac 2022

Ripe apple, puff pastry, fennel, cool hearth; juicy on the palate, creamy, soft, delicate fruit, fine acidity, shows finesse and good length, echoes with apple and passion fruit. Fresh, elegant.

While its red counterpart is notably less oaky, the 2022 Blanc from this estate continues to showcase a dominant bouquet of clove, spices and white fruits, mingled with notes of anise with aeration in the glass. The palate is harmonious and seamless, moderately weighted with a taut structure, balancing beautifully to culminate in a mouthwatering finish. This is a blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Sémillon.

Tangerine, white peach and quinine form a lively, fresh-feeling mix. There’s a light gilding of honeysuckle draped over the bouncy finish, which shows an echo of wet stone. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now through 2028. 700 cases made.

Juicy citrus and flowers easily show their wares here. The palate, with its slightly chalky edge, offers lightness and a hint of cooling herbs on the finish, which I like for its refreshing charm. The wine blends 70% old-vine Sauvignon Blanc with 30% Semillon. Drink from 2025–2032.

Green-gold colour, appealing stone fruits, nectarine and white peach, gentle waves of white pepper and sage spice, very enjoyable, good stuff. One to look out for. A nugget of honeysuckle and wax on the very final notes that hints at the vintage conditions, but this is well handled.

A beautiful purity on the nose, evoking the gentle warmth of a winter sun and the freshness of apple. On the palate, a milky character in this lively wine.

The nose is a little reserved but shows lovely citrus freshness (lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange), then pleasant floral and herbal notes (acacia, linden, cut grass, chamomile), hints of fresh and toasted hazelnut, vanilla in the background, a tangy edge of passion fruit, and a touch of lemon curd and butter. The palate is elegant and airy, opening on white peach and apricot. It then delivers fresh citrus notes (lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange), as well as lemon yogurt. The finish is sapid, with a touch of fresh and toasted hazelnut, along with a subtle hint of vanilla, hay, honey, and fresh and dried flowers in the background. Lovely acidity and length with a pleasant bitterness. An airy feel and great balance.

Pale color. Intense, refined nose with ripe fruit. Airy, melting palate with a noble touch, developing with savor on nuances of white fruits as well as red fruits. There is something racy about this wine. Blend: 60% sauvignon, 35% sémillon. Alcohol: 13°.

This Lespault-Martillac 2022 white wine expresses all the finesse and complexity of the appellation. The nose is expressive and complex. On the palate, the attack is broad and silky, followed by lovely freshness and a lingering finish with notes of grapefruit. An elegant, well-structured wine with excellent ageing potential.

91-93 Barrel sample. Think of this as a citrus wine, spiced with hints of tropical fruits and fine, tense acidity. The wood aging is filling the wine out well.