26.10.2022
The vine is a resilient plant that loves warmth. In the summer of 2022, weather conditions were favorable, with many sunny days and little rain, which can otherwise promote diseases and even parasites. Most winemakers assume that the 2022 vintage will be exceptional, as initial analyses indicate excellent acidity in the red wines – a sign of high ripeness.
Early start on September 11
At Château Le Pin Beausoleil, the 2022 harvest began earlier than in most years, on September 12 with the Merlots from the younger vines. The last grapes were picked on September 29, in a joint and pleasant effort by a group of friends, in cool and dry conditions after a few rainy days, which had contributed to a slight increase in the volume of the grapes.
Fête de vendange (harvest festival)
The following day, the harvest was celebrated with a festive meal – the traditional fête de vendange – for the seasonal workers and the entire château team. This wonderful evening culminated in a spectacular dinner, prepared by the incomparable chef Stivie Kimmig, who had traveled from Cologne especially for this occasion.
Careful extraction
After the harvest, gentle extraction was applied during alcoholic fermentation using remontage (pumping over) and pigeage (punching down the cap) to preserve the freshness of the wines. As the berries were small, contained little juice, and had thick skins, the ratio of solids to juice was naturally very different from other years.
The pips this year were exceptionally ripe in all grape varieties – from Merlot to Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. This resulted in soft, sweet tannins and an aroma profile reminiscent of toasted pine nuts. The aroma is much fresher than expected, especially on the clay-limestone soils. The wines show a lot of freshness and energy, without being affected by the heat. "It is a vintage of light rather than heat," says Julien Lavenu of Vignerons Consultants.
Promoted to a great vintage
What can we say so far about this vintage at Château Le Pin Beausoleil? We believe it has all the ingredients to become one of the best vintages ever from our estate: perfect ripeness of all grape varieties, including Cabernet Franc. The sugar and thus alcohol content was around 15°. Yields were between 30 and 35 hl per hectare – lower than in most years – due to the drought and lack of rainfall between July and the first half of September.
All in all, the 2022 Le Pin Beausoleil is destined to be a great wine, with long aging potential, a full body, and a rich, complex aroma. The current work in the cellar aims to fully develop this potential and create a wine that will provide pleasure for decades.
