The 2022 Grand Corbin-Despagne offers a striking mix of finesse and textural volume. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mint and espresso build in the glass. Soft and plush, with no hard edges and stunning balance, Grand Corbin Despagne is impeccable. Bright floral notes lift the finish.
95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2025)
This is a powerful wine, the Merlot in the blend giving the wine concentration. It is succulent with a dark coffee aroma and rich black tannins. The wine's density goes with the firm black currant fruits to give an ageworthy wine. Drink from 2029.
94 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Apr 2026)
This has aromas of cocoa, walnuts and black cherries, mingling with sandalwood and spices. It’s full-bodied, polished and structured, with firm, slightly dusty tannins. Chewy, concentrated finish. From organically grown grapes. Try from 2028.
94 points, Claire Nesbitt, James Suckling (Jan 2025)
A real sense of intent on the nose here, with well-defined black summer fruits, black raspberry, black pepper, rose petals and a touch of dark chocolate. This is followed by a deliciously precise and driven style on the palate, juicy and fresh, filled out with fragrant summer fruits, rose and peony, with touches of coffee bean and chocolate, all resting on a fine-boned tannic structure and lively acidity. Gloriously fresh, with a lightly bitter, tannin-gripped finish, long and convincing, this is a lovely wine from François Despagne which should evolve beautifully.
94 points, Chris Kissack, Wine Independent (Jun 2025)
The 2022 Grand Corbin-Despagne is ripe and generous, bursting with aromas of sweet berries, plums and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with lively acids, ripe tannins and a suave, gourmand profile, it will offer a broad drinking window.
93 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Mar 2025)
The 2022 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne is another inky-hued, powerful Saint-Emilion in the vintage. Possessing a pure, nicely oaked nose of ripe red, blue, and black fruits as well as sappy flowers, violets, and graphite, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a juicy, lively mouthfeel, nicely polished tannins, and outstanding length. It offers ample pleasure today yet will have 15-20 years of overall longevity.
93 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
A consistently successful estate, here with depth that is maintained through the mid palate, plenty of character and deep black fruits, rosemary and sage, crayon and crushed rocks. Harvest September 1 to 15, 90% new oak 10% amphoras, the rest neutral oak, Francois Despagne winemaker and owner.
93 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2025)
Dark ripe fruit with fresh blueberries and cranberries. Great upfront juiciness with some soft herbal and subtle toasty accents beneath the fruit. Charming and easy to like with a lifted, menthol and mineral finish. This has an element of reduction about it adding extra crispness to the expression. Bright and characterful keeping a straight line from start to the end.
93 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2025)
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