“All we could say when our glasses were empty was, ‘Where did the bottle go?’” – James Suckling

The full story for this Wine of the Year goes… “One of the biggest stories this year was the release of the exceptional 2022 vintage in Bordeaux… This is why I chose the Château d’Issan Margaux 2022 as our Wine of the Year for 2025. I just drank a bottle a couple of nights ago before finishing this article, and I was elated to enjoy such a glorious young bottle of Bordeaux. The opulent and complex fruit in the wine just kept me coming back with every sip. It’s luxurious, to say the least, with velvety tannins and complex flavors of currants, spices, and mushrooms. Marie and I and two other colleagues finished the bottle in 20 minutes at the dinner table as we discussed the virtues of the wine. All we could say when our glasses were empty was, ‘Where did the bottle go?’”

You’ve heard the hype on 2022 Bordeaux, yes? It’s REAL. I was lucky enough to witness the greatness in person en primeur, and down the road, it truly is a vintage of the century, if not the one. Vinous calls it “beyond praise” because “the 2022 vintage serves as a timely reminder that when Bordeaux fires on all cylinders, it is untouchable.” We like the untouchables here at Wine Spies. Not the prohibition-enforcing Agents. The unicorn wines, we mean.

This fairy tale castle with vineyards sandwiched between Château Margaux and Palmer is an insider’s gem that is historically credited to be an integral part of the very beginnings of Bordeaux’s wine history. It was in 1152 (let that 874 years ago part sink in for a little bit) that the very wine from this land was the chosen one for the royal and holy matrimony of Eleanor of Aquitaine with King Henri II, conjugation France and Britain in such a profound way that it continues to define Bordeaux and her wines.

While ‘22s need some patience to fully bloom, you need to witness one while they age, decant a few hours to immerse yourself fully in the glory, with some hearty fare. The hype is a cork away.

All in all, any wine-loving household without 2022 Bordeaux is lonely, get in on these.

#1 Wine of the Year, 98 Points – James Suckling “This is really luxurious, showing blackcurrants and orange peel with cedar and dried-mushroom aromas following through to a medium to full body that grows on the palate. This has crunchy and lightly chewy tannins that are slightly austere but in an elegant, classical Bordeaux way. Chewy at the end. So much energy and vibe. So complex. Probably the greatest wine ever from here. Best after 2028 but already a joy to taste.”

97 Points – The Wine Independent “The blend here is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, taking a lot of fruit from the parcels outside the clos, the grand vin in this vintage accounting for 54% of the total production. The élevage was in 50% new barrels. A very polished nose here, dark berries coated in dry dark chocolate, with tobacco, black olive and soot complexities, as well as a floral touch, suggestive of peony and mint. A nicely polished palate, medium-bodied, but with a fine and dry extract, with tightly knit tannins wrapped up in ribbons of dark and salted fruits, black olive, tobacco, leather and black pepper, which lies atop a dark and sinewy backbone of tightly knit and energetic tannins. Great length here, the length wrapped up in those tannins, finely defined and tight knit. A very convincing d’Issan which will surely evolve well over the next couple of decades. Absolutely delicious this – one of the best vintages from d’Issan I have tasted. Drink 2029-2059.”

97 Points – The Wine Palate “A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot, aged in 50% new oak, d’Issan 2022 has a deep garnet-purple color. It opens with a gorgeous perfume of crème de cassis, black raspberries, and violets, giving way to hints of mint tea, dark chocolate, and underbrush. Full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully silky with bags of juicy red and black fruit flavors and a lively backbone, finishing long and fragrant. This is what Margaux is all about! Drink 2029-2059.”

96 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The deep ruby/purple-hued 2022 Château d’Issan is rock star stuff, offering a massive array of red and black fruits, spring flowers, violets, smoky tobacco, and a beautiful sense of minerality. This full-bodied, powerful, concentrated Issan has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. The alcohol here is 14.6% and the pH is a solid 3.6. Give bottles 4-5 years if you can, and it will evolve gracefully over the following three decades. Drink 2025-2055.”