Capbern - Saint-Estèphe 2022

Alexandre Ma

92

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

This is the first time I have encountered a salty sensation in Château Capbern, which contrasts sharply with the usual sweetness I have come to expect. Thanks to the tiny berries, this wine boasts an unexpected concentration. Just as I braced for the usual powerful tannins, I was instead greeted by a wave of violet fragrance and a fresh, juicy taste. The way this wine handles the warmth of the dry vintage is remarkable; if I didn’t look at the label, I would never guess that it has an alcohol content of 15%.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

90

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Concentrated in colour and in flavour, this is one of the few big name wines this year that really does seem to have lost typicity, but no doubt impacted by the hail more than the vintage itself. Lots of spice, deep clove spice, feels lusicous in texture, but more exuberant than usual, lacks some of that old school Capbern restraint. Harvest September 6 through to 27.28hl/h yield, following hail early in the season. 60% new oak for ageing.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Capbern, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

93

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

From the team at Calon-Ségur and deep ruby/plum-hued, the 2022 Château Capbern has a youthful, unevolved profile in its black and blue fruits as well as crushed stone, graphite, and violet-like perfume. This carries to a rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated Capbern that has solid depth of fruit, juicy acidity, and ripe tannins. It has all the right components, but it's going to need some time to come together.

Yvesbeck.wine

93

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

Le bouquet s'affiche avec subtilité et assurance. Il commence par révéler de la fraîcheur, ce qui est de bon augure dans le contexte chaud et sec du millésime. Le terroir et la délicatesse du travail ne doivent pas y être étrangers ! Il révèle également quelques notes confites, mais pas d'une manière exubérante…elles sont là et on en prend note. En bouche, le vin affiche une certaine largeur, mais il reste linéaire dans son cheminement. Ses tannins légèrement suaves assurent les arrières et contribuent au bonus sympathie que l'on a su canaliser au fil des années. Un Capbern conquérant, à la puissance canalisée et parfaitement assimilée. On pourra certes approcher jeune, mais dont le potentiel est grand ! 2027-2042 93/100

Vinous

91

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Capbern takes a few minutes to really coalesce on the nose. It has more red fruit than I recall compared to en primeur, with raspberry and wild strawberry scents, touches of wilted rose petal and a hint of dried blood in the background. This opens nicely with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded, very harmonious opening, well-judged acidity and a judicious dab of spice toward the finish. This finishes with style, perhaps better than the aromatics at the moment. It is promising.

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Ashtray and fine dark spices with plenty of cassis and peppercorns. Spiced black cherries too. Rich on the palate with fine, dusty tannins that manage to vibrate and deliver structure to the fruit. Almost full-bodied, this has outstanding depth, concentration and length. Drink from 2027.

Vinous

90

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Capbern is a powerful, dense wine. Black cherry, chocolate, new leather, dried herbs, licorice and gravel infuse the 2022 with notable depth and presence. This is quite an attractive Capbern. Drink it over the next handful of years.

Decanter.com

91

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Smells gorgeous, rich and vibrant with dark bramble berry tones. Blackcurrant and black cherry. Quite tannic straight away, they make the impression, slightly grainy and chalky giving a wide, expansive and mouth coating feeling. Bold, but clean and clear, it has a nice crispness as well as depth with some minty, herbal liquorice, flint and clove aspects on the finish. Slightly lifted in terms of alcohol impression at the end, sticking out a touch, but overall this is quite streamlined and sleek, not plush at all but cooly concentrated with a subtly juice core. 1% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. 3.25% pH. Ageing 18 months, 60% new french oak barrels.

Vinous

90-92

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Capbern was cropped at 26hL/ha between 6 and 27 September, a 20-day cuvaison and matured in 60% new oak for a planned 18 months. The Cabernet Sauvignon berries were tiny this year, which underlies why the Merlot comprises a higher percentage of the blend. It has an airy, floral bouquet with blackberries, wild strawberries and a touch of raspberry confit. There's an almost Pinot-like purity. The palate is medium-bodied with a grippy, peppery entry, full-bodied and muscular at the moment. I'm seeking a bit more grace here - perhaps this Saint-Estèphe is slightly over-revving on the finish?

The Vintage Journal

91-92

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Medium deep crimson. Blackcurrant, black olive, graphite aromas with marzipan roasted chestnut notes. Well concentrated inky textured wine with marzipan notes. Firm claret like finish. 15% alcohol gives buoyancy and weight. 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc 60% new oak. 15% alc

matthewjukes.com

17,5

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

Made from 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Capbern is deep garnet-purple in color. It sashays out with flamboyant scents of warm cassis, fresh blackberries, and cherry pie, followed by suggestions of sassafras, cedar chest, and iron ore. The concentrated, full-bodied palate is jam packed with black fruit flavors, supported by finely grained tannins and just enough freshness, finishing decadently rich and with great persistence. pH 3.8.

Yvesbeck.wine

92-94

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Capbern se révèle d'entrée, avec un bouquet qui met autant en valeur les nuances fruitées que le terroir tandis que l'élevage rappelle discrètement qu'il est là ! En bouche le vin affiche une puissance que l'on va qualifier d'inédite. Elle est bien canalisée et complétée par le côté tonique énergétique du vin au travers d'une touche saline et d'une acidité structurante avec, au final, même une touche végétale… mûre bien évidemment ! Année après année Capbern gagne en définition, en caractère. Je pense que c'est un des plus puissants qu'il m'a été donné de goûter.

Bettane & Desseauve

94

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Coup de cœur évident pour ce capbern ultra savoureux avec, en plus, une forme accessible de complexité et de noblesse aromatique dans un corps puissant et équilibré. Immense rapport qualité-prix probable.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

One of the more opulent, sexy wines in the vintage, the 2022 Château Capbern just about jumps out of the glass with its sweet red, blue, and black fruits as well as notions of chocolate, graphite, and leafy herbs. Full-bodied, concentrated, and textured on the palate, with ripe tannins, this stunning Saint-Estèphe is up there with the finest vintages I've tasted from this château.

Vinous

89-91

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Capbern is a wild, exotic wine. Super-ripe, red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and sweet spice are front and center. The tannins are a bit untamed at this stage; hopefully élevage will take care of that. Tasted two times. Drinking window : 2026-2037

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Spring mint, currants, black cherries, tobacco, and a touch of spice in the nose lead the way to the palate, which, even though the alcohol is high, the fruits feel fresh, and lively, with no touch of heat. You find a nice touch of oceanic influence at the end of the finish. The wine blends 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. 15% ABV, 3.8 pH. Drink from 2026-2040.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

Notes of dark berries and cherries mingled with licorice and loamy soil introduce the 2022 Capbern, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine framed by ripe, powdery tannins and concluding with a long, somewhat heady finish. It's a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, picked between the 6th and 27th of September.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

A firm and tight red with blackberry and currant character. Medium body. Bright and savory.