Château La Chapelle aux Moines 2022
Château La Chapelle aux Moines is a discreet property in Saint-Émilion, located on the eastern slopes of the appellation. The estate belongs to the world of small family-owned Bordeaux crus, with a modest-sized vineyard that allows for human-scale production. Its sandy-silty soils resting on deep clay favor supple, fruity, and expressive wines, with a beautiful sensation of texture on the palate. In the prestigious landscape of Saint-Émilion, this cuvée offers an accessible yet serious reading of the right bank terroir. The 2022 vintage, sunny and generous in Bordeaux, gives the wine a particularly seductive fruit depth. Château La Chapelle aux Moines 2022 thus stands out for its ripe, round, and structured style, while retaining the expected elegance of a Saint-Émilion. It is an ideal wine for lovers of classic Bordeaux, with a very interesting pleasure and aging potential.
The Château La Chapelle aux Moines 2022 cuvée is based on a Bordeaux blend dominated by Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and a small portion of Malbec. Merlot brings fleshiness, smoothness, and aromas of ripe black fruits that define the identity of many Saint-Émilion wines. Cabernet Sauvignon strengthens the structure, tannic freshness, and aging capacity, while Cabernet Franc adds a floral, spicy, and slightly graphite touch. The presence of Malbec, in limited proportion, can enhance color, depth, and notes of black fruits. The aging combines vats and barrels to preserve the fruit while adding relief, roundness, and a controlled woody dimension. The 2022 vintage here produces a generous, concentrated, and already expressive wine, but endowed with a structure capable of evolving. Altogether, it composes a pleasurable Saint-Émilion, both gourmand, balanced, and serious.
In the glass, Château La Chapelle aux Moines 2022 reveals a dark robe, deep ruby, with still youthful reflections. The nose opens on blackberry, black cherry, plum, and blackcurrant, with nuances of licorice, vanilla, cocoa, and soft spices. The palate is ample, round, and generous, carried by ripe fruit and a velvety texture. The tannins are present but well integrated, giving the wine good structure without hardening the tasting. The finish prolongs the black fruits, noble wood, licorice, and a slight smoky note, in a rich and harmonious style. This 2022 can be drunk after generous aeration but will gain complexity after a few years in the cellar. It will perfectly accompany a grilled rib steak, duck breast, roast lamb, veal chop with mushrooms, a stew, or an aged cheese.
Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec
