One of my favorites this year and surely a wine that punches above its weight, the 2022 Joanin Bécot reveals a perfumed, vibrant bouquet of iris, lilac, dark berries, licorice and violet. Medium to full-bodied, supple and satiny, it's lively and juicy with a fresh core of fruit, bright acids and fleshy texture, concluding with a fresh, ethereal and mouthwatering finish. This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is a real success and worth hunting down.
92+ points, Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate (Mar 2025)
A fresh, direct style, with light sanguine and cedar accents gently framing a core of red currant and bitter cherry coulis flavors. The sleek finish makes this approachable now. Delicious. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2033. 5,830 cases made, 1,500 cases imported.
92 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2025)
Full and fruity nose, expressive and ripe, nicely perfumed and expressive. Clean and clear, extremely mineral, graphite, pencil lead and flint stone notes on the palate alongside clear blue fruits, blueberries, blackcurrants and some red summer berries. Super smooth in terms of texture but also quite lean in terms of fruit flavour, this has bite and tang, a touch austere but also really quite juicy and floral too. Needs a bit of time, but feels precise and focussed with grip and intensity. I like the fruitiness, really quite upfront but keeping the liveness and energy. Succulent and nicely sweet touches with juicy acidity. Easy enjoyment, plush, mineral, all in balance. 3.6pH. 12% press wine. A yield of 39hl/ha.
92 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Mar 2023)
I loved the 2022 Château Joanin Bécot, a juicy, lively, nicely balanced Castillon that has perfumed red fruits as well as the classic mineral and floral nuances of the region. It's medium-bodied, has integrated acidity, and a great finish. The blend is 80/20 Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the cooler, limestone Castillon region east of Saint-Emilion, and this beauty will drink well for 10-15 years if well stored. Readers could do much worse than a case of this in the cellar.
91 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
The 2022 Joanin-Bécot is a bold, heady wine that has really closed down post-bottling. There's a bit of density and power, but not the raciness that I saw in barrel. Some of that may be attributable to the late bottling. But we will see.
91 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2025)
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