Collection: A Tale of Two Seasons: 2021 and 2022 Bordeaux

Recent Bordeaux arrivals in the store include a couple of contrasting recent years: 2021 and 2022. 2021 was, in the context of this warming era, decidedly cool and sometimes damp; 2022, by contrast, was hot and dry. Both vintages have much to give, but in quite different ways.

The 2021s are mid-weight, fresh, aromatic wines that deliver perfume and silky fruit. Not made for the long term, they are already delivering charm and drinkability. My picks include, from the Right Bank, Les Perrières from the Lafleur stable of wines, Vieux Château Certan, and Lafleur-Pétrus from Pomerol. From the Left Bank, Mouton-Rothschild for under $500 is a sure-fire winner.

The 2022s will long be discussed in the context of recent great vintages in the region. These are magnificent wines of structure and concentration, which will drink well for decades to come. A couple of top St. Emilions catch the eye: the Moueix family's brilliant Bélair-Monange, and the resurgent Beausejour (Duffau Lagarosse). Both showcase their exceptional limestone terroirs in their chalky minerality overlaid by succulent fruit. Top vintages like 2022 allow these magnificent sites to shine all the more.