"The 2022 vintage is another tour de force for Bouchard." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate
It's no surprise that an iconic, powerhouse domaine like Bouchard had a banner 2022 vintage, with their flagship releases counting among the campaign's sharpest collectible buys. Up and down the entire range, however, you'll find superb efforts like the 93-point Beaune 1er Cru du Chateau, a blend of all 17 of Bouchard's 1er cru parcels that results in a "suave, seamless" expression. Their 1er Cru Teurons parcel also shines in 2022 with an "excellent" rendition that's "built to cellar with grace" according to Kelley.
Turning to the domaine's standard bearers, we find a showcase collection of these all-time Burgundy favorites, each one boasting sterling accolades from every corner of the critical sphere. The 2022 Beaune 1er Cru Les Greves "Baby Jesus" lives up this cuvée's lofty reputation, and then some with a pair of 96-point scores from James Suckling and Decanter, as well as effusive praise from pretty much everyone else. "A wine of gorgeous intensity," the 2022 is "a benchmark for the appellation" according to Kelley, and "a robust, serious, and built-to-age" standout per Burghound, who tagged it with his Sweet Spot and Outstanding designations.
Serious aficionados should also pay close attention to the "pure and ethereal" Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot, a double 95-point jewel available in both 750ml and 1.5L magnum. "This is one exceptionally classy wine, indeed the mouthfeel is pure silk," notes Burghound, "Buy it." Not much more needs to be said, although you can certainly find a litany of additional compliments in its many glowing reviews.
When all is said and done, it comes down to the simple fact that Bouchard offers some of the most consistently reliable, cellar-worthy candidates in Burgundy, a trend that holds true across the board in this stellar set of 2022s.
A powerful and quite rich expression of this excellent site in Volnay that has some of the floral beauty of this appellation, but more red fruit and some ripe blackberry. The generous and quite full body is well supported by the fine tannins and a touch of biscuit character. Long, supple finish that pulls you back for more. From the first vineyard that the Bouchard family purchased in 1775. It lies in the middle of the slope, where the clay soil is shallow. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
95 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling (Jun 2024)
The parcel of Volnay Caillerets was the first Pinot picked in 2022 due to the thin soils and superficial nature of the limestone. The wine has an alluring aroma of blackberry and mulberry fruit with hints of boxwood, bay leaf, and peonies. The texture is supple and velvety, with rewarding concentration and density. The team at Bouchard sorts rigorously for 'figuée', grapes shrivelled by sunburn; technical director Frédéric Weber says success depends on 'keeping it crunchy'. This wine should open soon after release and is suited to mid-term cellaring, although a 1962 from this vineyard tasted this year was still fresh.
95 points, Charles Curtis, Decanter (Sep 2023)
Here too there is a liqueur-like quality to the black cherry aromas that are nuanced by floral and spice hints. The caressing yet intense and beautifully detailed middleweight flavors brim with both minerality and dry extract that carry over to the dusty, moderately austere and affirmatively built-to-age finish. This is one exceptionally classy wine, indeed the mouthfeel is pure silk. Buy it. *Sweet Spot, Outstanding*
92-95 points, Allen Meadows, Burghound (Apr 2024)
The 2022 Volnay 1er Cru Les Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot is showing especially well, bursting with aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with spices, rose petals and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, it's pure and ethereal, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish.
92-94 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Jan 2024)
A succulent style, with cherry, blackberry, smoke, earth and vegetal notes offset by a broad swath of tannins. Dense and compact, this tails off a little on the finish today courtesy of the strong tannic grip. Needs time. Best from 2028 through 2045. 180 cases imported.
93 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Jul 2025)
A small yield in 2022, making it hard to judge the picking date. A rich deep purple in the centre. The oak adds a sheen to the nose. There is vigour to this albeit with a slightly riper fruit profile, but the structure is balanced very well by a fresher limestone feel.
91-93 points, Jasper Morris, Inside Burgundy (Oct 2023)
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