Another delicious, up-front, textured Margaux in the vintage, the 2022 Château Ferrière boasts a deep purple hue as well as red, blue, and black fruits, some leather, smoked meat, and leafy herb nuances, medium to full body, and just a charming, round, mouth-filling style that's going to drink well right out of the gate. I tasted this during my trip to Bordeaux and rated it 89-91, but a sample shipped to me later showed considerably better (either that or I clearly mis-rated it in April), and I've updated the rating accordingly.

The 2022 Ferrière, from a vineyard that contains plenty of old vines according to proprietor Claire Villars-Lurton, was cropped at 24 hl/ha. This has a complex, nuanced bouquet that opens beautifully in the glass, with red plum, blackberry fruit and light flinty scents coming through with time. The palate is very well balanced and briny with a fine bead of acidity, a strong marine influence and gentle grip on the black olive-tinged finish. This is excellent.

A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2022 Ferrière offers up aromas of dark berries, plums and sweet soil tones, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and layered palate that's suave, elegantly muscular and lively. From biodynamically farmed clay-rich gravels, this 18-hectare estate (formerly leased to Château Lascombes) possesses an unusually high proportion of old vines, with fully one-third of their vineyards over 70 years of age.