2022 Cuve 8a
2022 Cuve 8a
Thierry Garnaud, winemaker at Cheval Blanc for 38 vintages, wanted to try his hand at something different. A pure expression of a unique terroir, but more modern, without oak, and available as an everyday drinker, without breaking the bank.
‘8a’ is the identity in our chai of the cuve in which this wine is lovingly crafted. Made from specific parcels of slightly younger vines, it’s vinified & matured solely in concrete, and can be enjoyed sooner than it’s ‘grand vin’ sibling. Not a second wine, but very much a different cuvée.
Delighted with the vintage, quantity & quality, one of the hottest, driest seasons ever in the region has produced sensational wines, with our terroirs doing an incredible job in protecting the vines from the extreme heat.
We harvested relatively early, to avoid over ripeness. We like to conserve freshness & a minerality from our terroir, and don't want too high alcohols. As usual, we didn't over extract, and performed a twice daily remontage for 14 days, in and out of cuve alternating.
Vinification & ageing in 44-153 HL cement cuves, assemblage and subsequent aging into our single Cuve 8a. The Cuve 8a 2022 is 99% Merlot and just 1% Malbec, no cabernet, it's lovely rich fresh merlot, juicy but complex.
Drink now and for 15 years.
- The 2022 Cuve 8a sees no wood, unusual in Bordeaux, though it pays dividends, and represents one of my favorite wines
from Lalande-de-Pomerol. It has a fresh bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, light floral and orange blossom scents. The palate is well-balanced and lightly spiced, with good definition, grainy tannins and a very elegant and persistent finish. I look forward to tasting this from bottle - great potential.‘
Neal Martin, 91-93
- ‘The Cuvée 8a by Canon Chaigneau is characterized by fresh, floral nuances. The bouquet reveals delicate notes of
peonies and the refreshing scent of raspberries. The fruit intensity can also be found in the beginning. The wine is of good density, tasty and is supported
by tannins that are still somewhat firm, but harmonizing with the acid structure. I think time will round off the rough edges a bit, but actually you have to praise the energy, the dynamics and the ambitions that are in this wine.’
Yves Beck, 92-93
- 'Notes of blue fruit and violets with spices and wet stones. Medium-bodied, toned and crunchy with fine-grained,
silky tannins. Fresh finish.'
James Suckling, 91-92
- 21 ha wine estate owned by Romik Arconian located on the top of the Néac plateau on good quality clay-limestone soils.
This is the unoaked cuvée, which can be a little austere in most vintages, but in the rich exuberance of 2022, it works. Remains a little tart in its acidity but there is great depth and intent to the black fruits, and momentum through the palate..'
Jane Anson, 90
"Dive into Lalande-de-Pomerol’s exceptional 2021 vintage with our Cuve 8a. Made with younger vineyards and no oak, it’s a pure expression of the fruit and balance of a wonderful year."
A Unique Terroir
The Néac plateau. One of the finest wines of the appellation, and one of the best value wines in France - medium bodied, not over extracted, complex, suave & extremely drinkable, typically with notes of truffle, black fruits, spice and cacao.
A Legendary Winemaker
Thierry Garnaud was maître de chai at Cheval Blanc from 1988 – 2018, responsible for such 100 Point Legends as the 1990, '98, 2000, '03, '05, '06, '08, '10, '15 & 2016.
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