Château Brun - Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2022
A family estate since 1571, Château Brun belongs to a lineage established for several centuries in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, northwest of the Saint-Émilion appellation. The vineyard, contiguous, covers about ten hectares on the slopes of a south-facing hill. Its clay-limestone soils ensure natural drainage while promoting regular ripening of the grapes. The estate claims a traditional approach to vine work and winemaking, with manual harvesting and careful sorting of the grapes. The 2022 vintage, marked in Bordeaux by a hot and dry year, produced wines characterized by significant ripeness but able to retain sufficient freshness when the terroirs and harvest dates were well managed. Château Brun thus fits into the classic Saint-Émilion Grand Cru style, favoring fruit, roundness, and an accessible expression of the right bank terroir.
The 2022 Château Brun is mainly made from Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc according to the composition communicated for this vintage. The vines, averaging about thirty years old, are planted on the estate's clay-limestone slopes. The grapes are hand-harvested then sorted before being vinified in temperature-controlled concrete vats. Maceration lasts about 18 to 20 days, allowing gradual extraction of color, fruit, and tannic structure. The wine then benefits from extended aging, around 18 months, in barrels, which supports its evolution without masking the fruity character of the vintage. This traditional method produces a Saint-Émilion with a supple and generous texture, where Merlot brings volume while Cabernet Franc contributes structure and aromatic freshness.
The deep garnet color announces a still young wine, with violet reflections that testify to the concentration of the vintage. The nose favors ripe red and black fruits, between black cherry, plum, and blackberry, accompanied by spicy nuances and discreet woodiness. On the palate, the attack is ample and fleshy, with a generous texture supported by already relatively smooth tannins. Freshness brings liveliness to the whole and prevents the wine from seeming too massive despite the sunny ripeness of 2022. With aeration, notes of cocoa, licorice, and undergrowth can gradually enrich the fruit, while the finish retains a slightly chalky frame. Still in its youth, this Saint-Émilion Grand Cru will benefit from being served after a light decanting to soften its structure and allow the bouquet to develop. It will naturally accompany a grilled rib steak, a rack of lamb, duck breast, game birds, or a platter of aged cheeses.
Grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
