The Wine Independent
byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/8/2023
The 2022 Marjosse is a blend of 75% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Malbec. Owner Pierre Lurton commented, “We have a lot of chalk and clay at Marjosse, so we never have a problem with freshness. We recently bought a small plot of Cabernet Franc, which did very well. It was a long harvest starting on 5th September and ending at the beginning of October. We had to go very light on the extraction and we couldn't use any of the press juice because it was too powerful.” The wine has a deep garnet-purple color and shoots from the glass with energetic notes of fresh, juicy blackberries, warm plums, and kirsch, followed by hints of cardamom, dusty soil, and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is coated with bright, expressive black fruits, supported by a lively backbone and plush, velvety tannins, finishing long, with a spicy lift. Well placed to succeed in these hot, dry vintages and with a good proportion of very old vines, which tend to handle these climatic conditions very well, this is likely to be one of the best bargains of the vintage.