Alcée - Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux 2022

Alexandre Ma

93

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

The 2022 vintage of Château Alcée is incredibly refreshing! The aromas of sour jujube, blood orange, and the floral notes of Da Hong Pao tea are distinctly noticeable, and their crisp, sweet fragrance is so invigorating that even from half a meter away. The fine, powdery tannins pair perfectly with the juicy mouthfeel, enhanced by the natural pH of the limestone clay soil, making the tasting experience incredibly satisfying. This high-quality, affordable wine is a must-have for those running wine bars! It’s sure to overturn your traditional perceptions of Bordeaux.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

92

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Limestone really does save these higher alcohol wines in the vintage, allowing a breath of freshness to run underneath the fruit, and providing a fresh cushion of air, even if this is a little subdued aromatically right now. Black cherry, orange peel, salted cracker freshness, good grip and length. 22hl/h yield, so extremely low here, 13ha estate, 50% new oak.

Wine Advocate

91

byYohan Castaingthe3/6/2025

Meeting all my expectations since the en primeur tasting, the 2022 Alcée is a real success this year. Revealing a dense, vibrant bouquet of cassis, lilac, spices and mulberries intertwined with delicate pencil lead notes, it's medium to full-bodied, concentrated and structured with a fleshy, seamless core of fruit, dense tannins that should mellow with one to two years in bottle and conclude with a long, mineral and floral finish. Among all the wines from Nicolas Thienpont, this is my favorite.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Alcée, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

I loved the 2022 Château Alcée, a very complete, balanced, ultra-classic Castillon that's loaded with minerality as well as notes of ripe black cherries, spring flowers, and spice. With medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, and a gorgeous finish, it might be the finest vintage of this cuvée to date. This cuvée is 100% Merlot that was raised 40% in new barrels, with the balance in once used oak, as well as 10% in concrete tanks.

Yvesbeck.wine

93

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

Merlot Il y a mille et une façons de briller. Alcée opte pour la subtilité et la profondeur, peut-être au détriment de l'éclat, mais tellement en faveur du plaisir ! La subtilité n'empêche pas l'exubérance, mais elle la tempère, la raisonne, la façonne ! Friand en attaque, le vin est porté par sa structure, par son terroir calcaire et par la richesse du millésime. Il s'en retrouve harmonieux, vigoureux et sapide. Quelle belle réussite. 2026-2044 93/100

Vinous

92

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Alcée has a backward, minerally and limestone-scented bouquet that needs time to open in the glass. It is quite understated for the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and saline, with supple tannins. This is an elegant Castillon with a precise and sustained finish. It is a thoughtful wine for serious Bordeaux lovers.

Jamessuckling.com

92

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Another crunchy wine, showing strawberries and cherries with some flowers and stone. Fine tannins with a salty, lightly austere finish. Pure merlot. Drink now and enjoy.

Vinous

91

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Alcée is plump and juicy. Red cherry, plum, blood orange, mocha and rose petal open in the glass. The 2022 is soft, creamy and caressing, with lovely nuance.

Decanter.com

92

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Floral and super scented on the nose with perfume and bright purple fruits on the nose. Smooth, supple, succulent and tangy - so much energy and life. There's still a mineral, stony, sleekness that keeps the tannin definition firm and focused but the quality of the fruit and easy juiciness is so appealing. Ends with tension and bite reminding you this is serious, but this has nice appealing elements. Round joyful and well made - a sweet hit on the mid-palate surrounded by liquorice, clove, aniseed and pencil lead. Calm, controlled, and well worked with a vibrant freshness and fruit purity that is so compelling and appetising. Excellent definition and tension, graceful, refined and totally moreish. Still tannic but this will be such a beautiful wine. Harvested 14 September - 22 September. 3.5pH. Ageing 16-18 months; 40% new barrel, 50% one wine (225L), 10% cement (500L). Derenoncourt consultants.

Alexandre Ma

92-94

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Château Alcée 2022 (En Primeurs) is already so delicious, just imagine how amazing it will taste once bottled! The fragrances of sour cherry, blood orange, and Da Hong Pao tea are distinct and refreshing, with a delightful acidity that lingers in the air. The finely powdered tannins complement the juicy texture perfectly, while the pH level enhanced by the natural clay-limestone soil adds an extra level of freshness. It's an absolute pleasure to indulge in this high-value wine, making it a great addition to any wine bar collection!

Vinous

92-94

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Alcée was picked at 22hL/ha between 14 and 22 September without Cabernet Franc in the blend. Now, the limestone terroir comes through brilliantly here - you can just smell that rock percolating through the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline entry, fresh and very well balanced, certainly one of the more intellectual Right Bank wines in this vintage. Perhaps not a wine destined to garner mass appeal, instead, a 2022 for "Castillon diehards".

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

92

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

The tannins here are very present from the first moment, you feel their power but they are tempered by a juicy, vertical feel through the palate, and a ton of concentrated black cherry and damson fruit. 25% new oak for ageing alongside larger 400l oak casks. Tasted twice, good quality and one to look out for. No Cabernet Franc in the blend this year becuse they are young vines and they suffered in the drought, with an overall yield of just 22hl/h yield. 3ha estate owned by Nicolas Thienpont since 2011, Nicolas and Cyrile Thienpont winemakers, Julien Lavenu consultant.

Yvesbeck.wine

92-93

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Alcée révèle la délicatesse du merlot mais également la fraîcheur du plateau calcaire sur argiles rouges. Ainsi, il affiche des nuances de menthe poivrée et de baies noires. En bouche l'attaque est crayeuse et légèrement saline. Le vin a du pep, une certaine ampleur et des tannins encore quelque peu serrés, probablement impressionnés par le tempérament de la structure acide. Cette dernière assure non seulement la fraîcheur mais également les arrières en soulignant le potentiel de Castillon. Un vin qui doit encore gagner en définition quant à l'expression aromatique.

Bettane & Desseauve

93-94

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Il y a de l’épaisseur et une matière subtile dotée d’un toucher de tannin crémeux et une suite pulpeuse irrésistible qui va loin dans les caudalies. Coup de cœur.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Tasting like a Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Emilion, the 2022 Château Alcée hails from the cooler Castillon region on the Right Bank and is 100% Merlot aged in one-third new French oak. This beauty offers a vivid purple hue as well as a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, and toasted spices. With a real sense of minerality, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it's one of those wines that tastes like it costs three times the price.

Vinous

90-92

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Alcée is fabulous. Bright, racy and beautifully perfumed, the 2022 is impressive. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, mint, cinnamon, mocha and a touch of sweet oak build effortlessly. Readers will find a sumptuous, plummy red that will drink beautifully out of the gate. Notable. In 2022 the blend is 100% Merlot, as the young vines of Cabernet Franc struggled through the heat and drought. Tasted three times. Drinking window : 2025-2034

The Wine Independent

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/7/2023

The 2022 Alcee, 100% Merlot, is deep garnet-purple in color. After some coaxing, fragrant notes of baked black plums, Morello cherries, and fertile loam emerge, with touches of lavender and black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers mouth-coating black fruits with loads of savory sparks and velvety tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift.

The Wine Cellar Insider

82-94

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Flowers, powdered-chocolate, black plums, cherries and a hint of spearmint open the perfume. The wine is rich, lush, full and polished on the palate, with layers of sweet, ripe, juicy plums and dark chocolate with intensity and freshness to the fruits on the mid-palate and in the finish. The wine was produced from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2025-2037.

Wine Advocate

89-91

byYohan Castaingthe4/28/2023

Thrilling notes of crème de cassis, violet, and blueberry introduce the 2022 Alcée, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple wine that's firm and youthfully tannic on the finish. It will likely blossom with élevage. 89 - 91+

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

Dark berries with blackberry and brambleberry character, as well as dusty tannins. Crunchy. Medium body. Fine tannins. Salty. Pure merlot.