After the harvest, a gentle extraction was performed using the techniques of pumping (“remontage”) and punching (“pigeage”) during alcoholic fermentation to preserve the freshness of the wines. As the berries were small with little juice and thick skins, there was naturally a very different ratio of marc to juice than in other years.
The pips were exceptionally ripe this year on all varieties from the Merlots to the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon. This will add soft, sweet tannins and an aromatic palette reminiscent of toasted pine nuts. The aromatic profile is much fresher than we would have anticipated, in particular on the clay-limestone soils. There is a lot of freshness and energy in the wines obtained without the impact of heat. “It is more a vintage of light than a vintage of heat”, says Julien Lavenu from Vignerons Consultants.
What can we say about this vintage at the Chateau le Pin Beausoleil at this point? We think it has all the ingredients for one of the best vintages ever produced at our chateau: Perfect maturity of all the grapes of all varieties including the Cabernet Francs. Sugar and subsequent alcohol levels were at 15°. The volumes per hectare range between 30-35 hl and are hence smaller than in most years, because of draught and dryness with a lack of rainfalls between July and the first part of September.
Taken together, the 2022 is programmed at the Pin Beausoleil for a great wine of long guard and with rich, fully developed body and aromas. The current work in the cellar is meant to unfold this potential and to create a wine that will create pleasure for decades to come.