2022 Château La Marzelle

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

“Un soyeux porté du début jusqu’à la fin par une énergie qui dynamise le vin jusqu’au bout avec une touche de cassis.”
96
Bettane et Desseauve - PRIMEUR

The origin

Vineyard
17 ha of adjoining land
Grape varieties
80% Merlot - 15% Cabernet franc - 5% Cabernet sauvignon
Density
5 700 à 7150 vines/ha
Âge moyen
30 years
Production
45 000 bottles
Situation
Upper terrace of Saint-Emilion formbed by the former Isle riverbed
Pruning
Bordelaise method (2 canes per vine)
Alcohol
14%

2022, a warm, dry and great vintage, which confirms the climatic evolution.

The vintage starts however in the norm, with a budburst close to the average date and after a winter among the coldest of the last 10. The spring frost, fortunately earlier than the previous year, occurred in the first days of April, limiting the impact on the rest of the vintage. From May onwards, the sunny and dry trend of the vintage began, with temperatures that were constantly higher than normal until September.

The salutary rains of June allowed the vine to get through this summer of fire and to bring to maturity grapes of a rare richness. Our Biodynamic vine growing, through the application of herbal teas and preparations, allowed the vine to get through this particular period in a remarkable way.

The hydric deficit combined with the high temperatures, allowed to generate a very important tannic richness of the skins and a ripening of the grapes of a rare richness. These tannins in quantity benefited from the marked hydric constraints during ripening to refine rapidly and the pips matured very early.

The harvest, earlier than usual, began on 14 September and finished on 30 September. The vinification, gentle and respectful, in vats or in barrels, allows us to obtain powerful wines but characterised by a concern for balance and elegance expressing the aromatic fruit supported by the necessary tension. The wine is matured in new French oak barrels but also, to preserve the fruit, in terracotta jars.

2022 will be a great vintage, to be analysed closely as it could be the norm in the future. 

Reviews

Bettane et Desseauve - PRIMEUR

96
“Un soyeux porté du début jusqu’à la fin par une énergie qui dynamise le vin jusqu’au bout avec une touche de cassis.”

Jean-Marc Quarin - PRIMEUR

95
“Couleur noire. Nez intense, fruité, pur, mûr, subtil, sentant bon les fruits noirs. Bouche tout en douceur tactile, savoureuse, avec de l’éclat dans le goût. Puis à partir du milieu, une ascension juteuse, tramée, puissante et profonde, sans jamais marquer le tannin. Une incroyable réussite qui rapproche ce cru de plus en plus de Pomerol.”

Alexandre Ma - PRIMEUR

93-95
“Considering the proportion of sand in Château La Marzelle’s soil, achieving such balance in the 2022 vintage is like performing a high-difficulty acrobatic feat at high altitude. I must tip my hat to the growing team and the winery for their composure and confidence in the face of the global warming challenge. In recent years, Château La Marzelle has consistently maintained its gentle and delicate style, and every time I taste it, I can see the beautiful image of a “Tofu Xishi.”The fruit aroma in the 2022 vintage is mature and juicy, with light and long- lasting floral notes, and the palate is smooth and flowing. I strongly recommend every wine lover starts paying attention to this winery, as it will bring you unexpected taste experiences.”

Andreas Larsson - PRIMEUR

95
“OUTSTANDING - MEILLEURE NOTE DE LA DEGUSTATION Inky dark core with a bright purple hue. Perfumed with violet, wild berries, clove, ginger, and chalk notes with a mild vein of oak. Very good grip and concentration, dense and fresh with powdery tannin, layers of wild berries, cassis, chalk and fine oak derived spicienses. Very long and muscular finish, youthful but already good harmony and polish.”

James Suckling - PRIMEUR

92-93
“Plenty of rich fruit with hints of chocolate, currants, blackberries and coffee beans. Medium-bodied with really fine tannins. Fresh and bright.”

Terre de Vins - PRIMEUR

94-95
“Le nez toasté délivre de belles notes d’eucalyptus et de tavac blond. L’attaque est d’une immense fraîcheur avec une sensation très agréable de fluidité. Les fruits rouges et noirs glissent sur le palais. C’est typiquement un vin déjà agréable dans sa jeunesse et ira loin pour qui sait patienter.”

Yves Beck - PRIMEUR

94-95
“Le bouquet de La Marzelle révèle d’invitantes notes de fruits frais, tels que myrtilles et cassis qui sont complétées par des effluves de chocolat et de graphite. Le vin affiche une belle ampleur en bouche où il dispose de tannins aux grains fins en harmonie avec la fraîcheur de la strucuture acide. La finale s’en retrouve juteuse, fruitée et persistante. A nouveau une belle réussite de La Marzelle qui confirme ainsi son cheminement qualitatif.”

Wine in China - PRIMEUR

95
“Ce domaine discret et intime a été le premier vin que nous avons dégusté lors de notre millésime 2022. Nous avons été agréablement surpris de constater que le Château La Marzelle a progressé très rapidement et a franchi avec succès de nouvelles étapes vers un vin vibrant et savoureux. Le Château La Marzelle a franchi une nouvelle étape dans sa progression vers des vins vibrants et onctueux. C'est un grand vin avec une longue finale. La longueur en bouche de ce vin est caractérisée par des arômes subtils d'épices et de cassis. Avec sa longue finale aux subtils arômes d'épices et de cassis, et ses saveurs riches et capiteuses, on peut dès aujourd'hui être sûr du succès futur de ce vin. Le succès futur de ce vin est déjà assuré aujourd'hui.”

Xavier Lacombe - PRIMEUR

96+

Jane Anson - PRIMEUR

93
“ky plum colour, austere on the opening beats, this has structure and character, espresso and coffee bean, cassis and blueberry, bitter on the finish, needs to soften over next five years.”

Weinwisser - PRIMEUR

17.5/20
“Intensive Bouquet, reife Heidelbeere, schwarzer Johannisbeernektar, Brasiltabak und Lakritze. Am satten Gaumen mits stützender Rasse, weicher Textur und engmaschigem Tanningerüst, molliger Körpen. Im gebündelten feinaromatischen Finale Wildkirsche, dunkles Graphit und feinmürbe Adstringenz.”

Antoni Galloni - PRIMEUR

92-94
“The 2022 La Marzelle is shaping up to be a jewel of wine.Bright and opulent, La Marzelle is a picture of the vintage. Red/purplish fruit, lavender rose petal, mint and a sweet spice note are ll dialed up. Bright saline notes linger on the sumptuous finish. Tasted two times”

Colin Hay - PRIMEUR

93-95
“(St Emilion; tasted first at the property and then at l’Association des Grands Crus Classés de St Emilion at Dassault with similar notes). Almost black in the glass, very pure and precise, nicely composed, cool and enticing, quite intimate and introvert. Very dark fruited, with intense cassis, concentrated bramble and a few plump mulberries thrown in for good measure. Super-fresh and with great clarity in the mid-palate. Walnut, graphite and a little cedar. On the palate, blueberry and mulberry, again, and bramble compote. Very intense with a very linear core – like a graphite rod – and juicy, svelte, ripe tannins. Long and linear but never foursquare as the fruit is so beautifully enveloped by the fine-grained lacy, silky tannins. Above all this feels very fresh and quite dynamic – one can sense the biodynamic viticulture. More like the 2020 than any other recent vintage but a step up in quality. A great success.”

Jeff Leve - PRIMEUR

94
“With a strong floral essence, the wine is medium-bodied, supple, fresh, and energetic. The fruits are soft, refined, and edged with espresso, spice, and chocolate on the mid-palate, and in the soft, polished finish. Drink from 2025-2042.”

Jeb Dunnuck - PRIMEUR

91-93+
“THe 2022 Château La Marzelle is another well-made, solid wine in the vintage. Red and black cherries, leather, dried herbs, and chocolate all emerge on the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with ripe, supple tannins and beautiful purity of fruit. Tasted on three occasions, it will unquestionably offer pleasure and is well worth buying.”

Decanter - PRIMEUR

92
“Juicy and lively, a lovely purity of fruit with a crushed stone element to the chalky texture and fine tannins. Energy and poise, not so acidic or plush, more straight and lean with nice sculpting. Refined and enjoyable with bite, a soft chew and juicy core and touches of dried herbs and liquorice at the end. Tasted three times. Harvest 9-30 September.”

Peter Moser - PRIMEUR

92
“Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Delicate ripe plum, dark cherry, some nougat, subtle herbal savouriness. Juicy, fine fruit expres-sion, round and ripe, discreet acidity. Already accessible and offering uncomplicated drinking pleasure.”

Markus Del Monego - PRIMEUR

94

Daniel Sériot - PRIMEUR

93-94
“Le nez est bien ouvert avec des arômes de cerises tardives, de cassis, d'épices et d'élevage net en arrière plan. La bouche est veloutée, avec une chair bien formée, un milieu de bouche, bien construit, dense et fruité. La finale est longue, tout en restant assez veloutée, avec une fraîcheur perceptible, fruitée et épicée.”

Le Figaro Vins - PRIMEUR

93
“Nez charmu de fruit, avec une sensation juteuse intense. Des arômes floraux se mêlent aux notes de fruits rouges et noirs légèrement compotés, tandis que les épices se font très discrètes. En bouche, la matière est suave, marquée par les petits fruits noirs frais, l'acidulé de la myrtille et du cassis et une salinité intense en finale, très salivante. La trame acide est bien en place et apporte du dynamisme à un vin très plaisant déjà.”

Vert de vin - PRIMEUR

92-93

Bernard Burtschy - PRIMEUR

92-94

Thomas Boxberger - PRIMEUR

91-94

Jonathan Chicheportiche - PRIMEUR

92-93
“Le nez est frais, racé et offre une certaine puissance, de l'énergie ainsi qu'un grain discrètement serré. On y retrouve des notes de cerise noire, de cassis et plus légèrement de violette associées à des touches de bâton de réglisse ainsi qu'à des pointes de lys, de poivre et à une discrète pointe d'épices. La bouche est fruitée, équilibrée et offre de la suavité, une jolie fraicheur, de la minéralité, de la rondeur, de la matière, du soyeux, du pulpeux, un joli fruit éclat/frais ainsi qu'un fin côté fleuri. En bouche ce vin exprie des notes de cassis pulpeux/juteux, de mûre éclatante et plus légèrement de violette, de lys associées à des touches de poivre, à des pointes de petites baies rouge acidulées/juteuses ainsi qu'à de fines pointes de réglisse frais et à une pointe de fleurs de cerisier.”

La Revue du vin de France - PRIMEUR

91-92
“D'un côté, ce vin enchante par sa netteté, son éclat aromatique et sa suavité de texture; de l'autre, sa finale généreuse, enveloppante nous conduit à espérer de lui plus de droiture.”

Rod Smith

91
“Concentrated ripe black fruit scents on the nose. Some supporting charry oak aromas. Concentrated and powerful palate with a lovely creaminess to the texture and great concentration of fruit. Ripe tannins and rounded quite soft acidity. All in keeping. Very well done and should be approachable in relative youth.”

The vintages of

2023 Château La Marzelle

A well-balanced vintage with silky, elegant tannins expressing the aromatic fruit supported by the necessary tension

2021 Château La Marzelle

Notes of chocolate, ripe black berries and Sichuan pepper. Perfectly balanced, well supported by its structure and smooth tannins

2020 Château La Marzelle

Aromas of black fruit, cherries and fine spices. Elegant and velvety on the palate, with a pleasant density. The finish is long, fresh and expressive

2019 Château La Marzelle

A superb nose bursting with fresh black fruit, with a creamy, spicy base. Good, sappy, fragrant length

2018 Château La Marzelle

Lots of freshness with notes of ripe black fruit. Black cherry on the palate, with a high tannin content but a well-constructed, fresh whole

2017 Château La Marzelle

Very aromatic, with pure, ripe fruit. Immediately melting on the palate, very fruity, the wine develops on an airy yet present body

2016 Château La Marzelle

Freshness on the nose with a delicate coating of black fruit. Silky and velvety on the palate, this wine expresses itself with great delicacy

2015 Château La Marzelle

Beautiful density and delicious depth for a wine that has gained a great deal in elegance and texture in recent years and that confirms itself brilliantly in this vintage

2014 Château La Marzelle

Superb core of ripe fruit with berry and cherry character. Full-bodied, smooth and velvety

2013 Château La Marzelle

An attractive red wine with ripe black fruit and coffee bean character. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins

2012 Château La Marzelle

Supple, with elegant tannins and subtle freshness

2011 Château La Marzelle

Notes of red and black fruit intermingled with flowers, earth and barrel. Good acidity, freshness and a surprising texture

2010 Château La Marzelle

The freshness of this material is very well extracted, with great finesse. Long, racy finish

2009 Château La Marzelle

Aromas of ripe black fruit and minerals follow through to a full body, with soft, velvety tannins and a long finish

2008 Château La Marzelle

A fine change in the style of the vintage towards greater balance and freshness: very fine, deep volume, dark fruit, intense and long

2007 Château La Marzelle

Elegant nose with wild fruit and mineral notes. Generous palate and pleasant texture

2006 Château La Marzelle

Good body, generous texture, well-extracted tannin, a wine with a strong personality

2005 Château La Marzelle

Intense garnet-red, brilliant, very aromatic, generous, spicy. Elegant and harmonious

2004 Château La Marzelle

The nose is aromatic, woody and well balanced. On the palate, the work is precise, with a delicious structure that unfolds with charm

2003 Château La Marzelle

A great, full-bodied wine, intense in colour, with rich, powerful tannins, yet very elegant