Haut Marbuzet - Saint-Estèphe 2022

Alexandre Ma

92

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

Last year, I noticed that Château Haut-Marbuzet, traditionally known for its bold style, has been shifting towards elegance, a transformation that is particularly evident in the hot 2022 vintage. During En Primeur, it resembled a graceful woman holding a basket of fresh flowers, with a refined demeanor and gentle poise. However, after bottling, the tannins appear somewhat assertive. Nevertheless, I am confident that after 5-7 years of aging, as the powerful tannins soften, its unique character will surely captivate you.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Old school, enjoyable, powerful, never trying too hard but there is plenty of confidence in the construction. Focus on cold ash, sandalwood, cocoa bean, espresso, cassis. A lovely wine.

Wine Advocate

94

byYohan Castaingthe3/6/2025

As usual, this estate crafted another sensual, delicate wine in a region where power and austerity are often the norm. The 2022 Haut-Marbuzet reveals an elegant, seductive bouquet of licorice, dark berries, cherries and flowers mingled with barely noticeable oak. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and layered, it's enveloping with a fleshy core of fruit, velvety tannins and a long, mineral, almost saline finish. It's a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Haut Marbuzet, Château

Yvesbeck.wine

96

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc Le bouquet de Haut-Marbuzet s'affiche avec sérénité et assurance. Il annonce de la puissance, mais sans s'emballer. Au contraire, il révèle moult détails en liant maturité et fraîcheur avec, par exemple, des notes de prunes, de mûres et de réglisse complétées par des fèves de cacao, puis quelques nuances minérales (craie, graphite). L'attaque dense ouvre la voie à un vin conquérant qui brille par son aptitude à être puissant, mais subtil, au travers de tannins suaves et compacts, tandis qu'une acidité autant structurante que juteuse assure la fraîcheur. Un vin exceptionnel qu'il va falloir laisser dormir en cave pendant un moment ! 2030-2057 96/100

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Haut-Marbuzet has a refined, finely delineated bouquet with black cherry, bilberry, orange rind and light leathery scents that unfold in the glass. The palate is well balanced with pliant, saturated tannins. As I wrote in my primeur note, this is a less bold and concentrated Haut-Marbuzet. Instead, one finds more precision and terroir expression, especially on the creamy-textured and persistent finish. This is excellent.

Jamessuckling.com

96

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Don’t be put off by the wood spices, which are still a bit prominent. This is built for the long haul, with impressive depth and complexity. Spiced berries, white pepper, hibiscus and touches of cedar, chocolate and minerals. The highlight is the tannin, both in its dusty quality and huge quantity, delivering structure, polish and precision. Really caressing and long in the finish, which lasts almost a minute. Such a smart buy for the vintage. Drink from 2026 and for the next 10 to 15 years.

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Haut-Marbuzet is a wine of depth and character. Lifted floral overtones meld into herbs, mint, blood orange and red-toned fruit. There's gorgeous freshness to match the wine's personality. Nervy tannins give this a good bit of energy. In 2022, Haut-Marbuzet is quite understated and yet so expressive. It's a fine Saint-Estèphe that will reward cellaring.

Decanter.com

93

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Seriously tannic and quite liquorice where you instantly get the tight coiled nature from the concentrated Cabernet and the terroir. Strongly muscled and confident - this has precision and detail with lots of savoury dark chocolate and clove elements edging the ripe, plush tannins underpinned by juicy blackcurrants with a lean salty tang. This has excellent potential. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Rolland & Associés consultants.

Alexandre Ma

93-94

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

Since last year's wine tasting, I have noticed that Château Haut-Marbuzet, known for its traditional strong style, had begun to shift towards a more elegant direction. This change was even more prominent in the hot and dry vintage of 2022. As I tasted, I could see a graceful woman holding a basket of fresh flowers and fruits. The well-known robust tannins no longer present a masculine character, but a modest temperament. They quietly await the applause of the floral and fruity aroma, gradually revealing their true nature. I greatly appreciate this expression of restraint before exuberance, and cannot wait to see its performance after bottling.

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Haut-Marbuzet has a detailed nose, perhaps less precocious than I anticipated, focused with brambly red fruit, cedar and sous-bois aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a fleshy middle, white pepper and clove toward a harmonious finish that gently fans out. There is a pleasing peacock's tail here - a very promising and classy Saint-Estèphe. Tasted three times.

The Vintage Journal

92-93

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Intense black cherry, liqurorice, blackberry aromas. Surpisingly velevety with amole dakr berry fruits, some musky notes and fine chocolaty tannins. Slinky firm finish with seductive sweet fruits. (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon with small parcels of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot)

The Wine Independent

87-89

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Haut-Marbuzet delivers classic notes of blackcurrants and juicy plums with hints of cedar, bay leaves, and graphite. The medium-bodied palate has a sturdy structure of firm, rugged tannins and just enough freshness to support the muscular fruit, finishing a tad chewy.

Yvesbeck.wine

94-96

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Complexe et intense, le bouquet de Haut-Marbuzet affiche une belle pluralité ! On y relève moult sensations, comme des notes de framboises, de menthe marocaine et de tabac blond ou alors, dans un autre registre, des nuances terreuses (ou racinaires), des pivoines et de la réglisse. Le vin se révèle en crescendo au niveau gustatif. Les tannins apparaissent lentement en fin de bouche. Ils sont puissants, élégants, sereins, parfaitement intégrés et de pair avec la structure acide. Cette dernière confère une touche saline à la finale et assure non seulement la fraîcheur et la persistance, mais également l'avenir de ce vin. Une grande réussite qui pourra défier quelques décennies car elle dispose d'un exceptionnel potentiel.

Bettane & Desseauve

95

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Quelle finesse de parfum et de texture, on sent les grands cabernets frands exprimer toute leur classe dans ce 2022 précis, long et d'une fraîcheur en finale envoutante. Comme toujours.

Vinous

90-92

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Haut-Marbuzet is terrific. Ripe red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, mint, licorice, mocha and dried herbs are nicely dialed up in this fleshy, racy Saint-Estèphe. Haut-Marbuzet is often one of the most distinctive wines in Bordeaux, as it is once again in 2022. Drinking window : 2025-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

A gem of a wine with its blend of ripe, fleshy, blackberries, espresso, smoke, dark chocolate, and spice. The wine is expressive, showy, and packed with layers of polished, sweet, lush fruits with length, vibrancy, and character. It is nice to see a return to a high-level of quality for this estate. Drink from 2026-2045.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byYohan Castaingthe4/28/2023

A blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Haut-Marbuzet is a beautiful wine in the making, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, sweet wild berries, cassis, mint and pencil lead, intermingled with hints of licorice. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple thanks to its ripe and velvety tannins, this is a deep, concentrated and vibrant Saint-Estèphe that is likely to number among the more attractive propositions of the en primeur campaign.

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

Dark berries, spicy herbs and sea shell undertones. Graphite, too. Ripe but fresh and crunchy with medium to full body and firm, very fine, linear tannins. Long and mineral and delicate on the finish. Really attractive.