critic reviews
From mostly gravelly soils, although there is some clay here, and the blend includes newly planted Cabernet Franc alongside the Merlot, which of course still dominates. A fragrant nose, peppery and spicy, with orange peel, redcurrant and tobacco. The palate is polished, fresh and bright, with an elegant tannic structure underneath it all, supporting a juicy core of fragrant fruit, the dark berries spiced with orange, redcurrant and graphite. Firm and peppery in the finish, this is a fine Pomerol, with a good saline grip at the end. Plenty of potential here. A new era for Bonalgue, perhaps? The alcohol on the label is 14.5%.
The 2022 Bonalgue is the first vintage to include around 7% of Cabernet Franc that was planted in 2019. This has a perfumed bouquet with potpourri influencing the well-defined black fruit having lost the <em>soupçon</em> of prune that I picked up from barrel. The palate is well balanced, with neatly integrated 40% oak. It has smooth tannins and a quite elegant style, particularly toward the saline finish. This is a classy Bonalgue that will be difficult to resist in its flush of youth.