The hottest, the driest, the earliest harvest…
On September 27, 2025, BC LIQUOR will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the annual Bordeaux Release. Since 1985, the event has evolved to become a key marker on the calendar, uniting many departments in BCL in order to bring the latest vintage. This year as the new vintage, 2022, is an excellent one with ripeness, finesse and “sense of place”. Bordeaux collectors and enthusiasts among you will remember that vintage 1982, the one featured in the first Release, was one of the greatest of all time in the region. BCL were able to source a selection of ’82s this year to complement the offering.
The rush is on, be ready on September 27th for the Bordeaux 2022 Release. This is always so interesting because the 2022 vintage is excellent. It would be hard, if not impossible, to find fault in any of the wines that were tasted at the Media preview on September 10th. I would say that’s most unusual given the diversity of tastes in the room where about 12 of us took part in tasting more than 25 of the 2022 Bordeaux wines.
The tasting was lead by Barbara Philip, Master of Wine and Category Manager – Wines of Europe for the BC Liquor Distribution Branch.
Although clearly wines of Bordeaux command a premium price there are a number of worthy wines that have a much more affordable price point for those who are looking to add one or two Bordeaux wines to their collection, and especially for those who, up to now, have not ventured into the Bordeaux experience.
By affordable I mean the following, that were available at the media tasting, priced at $70, $55, $50, $80, $70, and $40. Overall there are almost 200 Bordeaux wines available. Most at the Cambie Street store but also at signature stores throughout BC that should carry a good selection on September 27th if your location is other than Vancouver Cambie. (see the list at the end of the reviews) Note: not all wines are represented here, view the complete catalogue here.
Here are the wines that were tasted at the media preview:
176
Château Brown Blanc,
Pessac‑Léognan
“Bright and punchy, with a burst of lemon peel, honeysuckle and verbena that streaks through, backed by hints of clementine and elderflower honey. Delicious and distinctive. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink
now through 2028.”
92 pts, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
249613 $80
Crisp and fresh with superb acidity. Lightly scented with pronounced minerality. Light and refreshing. An ideal starter or afternoon sipper.
182
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc,
Pessac‑Léognan (L)
“The 2022 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is quite dense on the palate. Pear, apricot, spice, white flowers and lightly
honeyed notes build in the glass. Even in this brutally warm year, the Blanc retains a good bit of energy. As readers know, the Blanc is a rare white that demands cellaring to be at its very best. Its age-worthiness will be measured in decades. Tasted three times.”
96 pts, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
272603 6 bottle limit $250
Heavenly. Intense minerality and powerful acidity. Light yet very flavourful. An excellent pairing wine for rich dishes and seafood.
157
Château Reynon,
Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux
“The 2022 Reynon offers a clean, fresh bouquet, quite floral and perfumed with blackcurrant and blueberry scents. The medium-bodied palate has grainy tannins and fresh acidity, remaining taut and focused with a structured bell-pepper-tinged finish. Sapid and well crafted, this comes recommended.”
91 pts, Neal Martin, Vinous
332729 $40
A wine that is rech and deep with ripe scents of blackberry and blueberry. I can’t get enough of the aromas which suggests what is to come.
Not disappointed. Sharp in a good way, rich with expressive heavy tannins with crisp acidity and minerality. Tobacco, spice, leather and ripe fruits match the wondeful acidity. Dark and rich colour.
172
Château La Vieille Cure, Fronsac
“This is fleshy and seductive in feel, with gently mulled black currant and blackberry fruit holding sway over savory, smoldering charcoal, just-tilled humus and worn cedar notes on the finish. Shows range and character. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2035.”
93 pts, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
332919
$60
Scents of soap and lime. A definite richness suggested. Slightly darker in colour with some barnyard mixed with red candy, liquorice and plum torte. Deliciously ripe with sharp but pleasant tannins. Very spicy, almost smoky flavour. So rich, yet lean, dry and also slightly lighter. Pretty good.
95
Château Grand Corbin-Despagne,
St‑Émilion Grand Cru
“Dark ripe fruit with fresh blueberries and cranberries. Great upfront juiciness with some soft herbal and subtle toasty accents beneath the fruit. Charming and easy to like with a lifted, menthol and mineral finish. This has an element of reduction about it adding extra crispness to the expression. Bright and characterful keeping a straight line from start to the end.”
93 pts, Georgina Hindle, Decanter
332946
$95
Much darker in colour than the previous wines. With definite floral notes and a little chalk. Heavy tannins. A rich and ripe wine.
24
Château Bellegrave, Pomerol
“Spiced plums, iron and minerals follow through to a round, medium-bodied palate with silky tannins and a linear, smoothly rendered finish. Refined, juicy and pretty long. 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc. From organically grown grapes. Already attractive but can hold.”
93 pts, James Suckling
332864 $100
Opening with chalky, dusty scents. Ripe but lighter than expected. Good acidity with light to medium tannins. Dry with medium body.
33
Château Brown, Pessac‑Léognan
“Ripe and fleshy in feel, with enticing black currant and blackberry notes liberally laced with tar, dark tobacco and dried violet details. Sappy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2037.”
92 pts, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
272600 $80
Heavy scents of cranberry, Italian plum and cinnamon. Ripe and richly dark in colour with dusty scents. Surprisingly somewhat lighter in body. Spicy with intense pronounced tannins. Very dry and lighter. (Yes to this one.)
115
Château Lanessan, Haut-Médoc
“Ripe and open on thenose – expressie scents of dark, sun-kissed fruit. Concentrated onthe platate with such a lovely weight and texture – slightly grippy, slightly chewy and cool overall. Feels nicely balanced, round and forward. Calm and fresh. Juicy strawberries with mint and aniseed.”
93 pts, Georgina Hindle, Decanter
332856 $50
Dark and rich in colour with dark fruit aromas of cherries and a touch of brioche. Lighter than expected. Dry with tannins. Flavours of ripe plum, very lean but also spicy. “highly recommend”
163
Château Siran, Margaux
“Hibiscus and iris accents are infused liberally throughout a core of mulberry and blackberry this version. Black tea and sanguine hints add puree in range on the fleshy finish, which ends with a lovely sweet cedar echo. Textbook for the AOC and the vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2040.”
94 pts, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
302070 $85
Scents of red roses open. A pleasant wine with medium body. Ripe but not overly dry.
126
Château Margaux, Margaux (L)
“The 2022 Château Margaux obliged reams of superlatives from barrel. Now in bottle, it is a stone cold breathtaking First Growth that belongs on the mantelpiece alongside the 1959 and 1983. That said, at first, the aromatics are bashful, yet it takes little to unfurl in jaw-dropping fashion, armed with heavenly pure black fruits laced with peony and iris flower and
exuding mineralité (which is a mighty achievement given the season). The palate is imbued with stunning pixelation. There is a little more structure than I recall—an enthralling sense of architecture and thrilling tension, the pH of around 3.65 imparting acidic spine. Winemaker Philippe Bascaule remarked that he cannot compare the 2022 to another vintage. This is a profound Château Margaux that sets a contemporary benchmark.”
100 pts, Neal Martin, Vinous
272901, 364040 6 bottle limit $1,700
A bouquet of spring flowers. Superb with medium body and ripe tannins.
31
Château Branaire-Ducru,
St‑Julien
“The 2022 Branaire-Ducru has turned out just as brilliantly as I had hoped. Offering up a deep bouquet of crème de cassis and blackberries mingled with pencil shavings, burning embers and cigar box, it’s medium to full-bodied, velvety and unctuous, with a rich core of fruit, lively acids and sweet structuring tannins. Iterated and complete, it concludes with a long, broad finish. This blend of 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot is
worth a special effort to seek out.”
96 pts, William Kelley, Wine Advocate
272647 $140
Interesting with scents of raspberries. Floral with lighter tannins. Dry. Herbal notes with high acidity. Fruity, ripe and drinkable now.
113
Château Lagrange, St‑Julien
“Structured and so appealing on the palate, this has a rich texture but doesn’t come across as too much. Filling but lifted giving freshness and ripe fruit. I love the delicacy of the tannins, this is finessed with so much detail on show. Feels cool and calm, not shouting, everything in harmony and delivering a really classically styled wine. Power is there for sure but this has poise too. A lovely Lagrange.”
96 pts, Georgina Hindle, Decanter
272650 $130
Dark and rich colour with scents of plum. Very tasty. Medium tannins with ripe notes. Medium bodied exhibiting botanical notes with light acidity. Very pleasant and ready to drink.
7
Château Lagrange 1982,
St-Julien (L)
“One of the sleepers of the vintage. Traditional and rich. Dark ruby-colored, with a slight garnet rim. Masses of berry, chocolate and raspberry character. Full-bodied and very tannic, packed with fruit. Lengthy finish. A youthful and concentrated wine; a relatively good value.”
Tasted November 30, 1998
94 pts, Wine Spectator
304556 6 bottle limit $600
Amber tone and slightly lighter in colour. Burnt fruit, prunes and toast. Notes of minerality. The ripeness and burnt toast follow to the palate. Medium tannins and it is different in some ways. Slightly lighter than expected with quite a sweet finish.
123
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
“Ripe and generous on the palate, this is chewy, crunchy and alive. Ripe fruit is there – chewy and sweet black currants and cherries – fleshy and filling – as is concentration of flavours, but there’s a delicate layering of elements which builds the wine on the palate giving power but also focus and precision. Still feels a little shy, with tension there in the funnelling of flavours and a relatively crisp finish but this will elongate in time. Cool blueberries, wet stones, pencil lead and graphite give the mineral touches. No overt heat, oak or spice which also is excellent. One for the long haul. Built with ageing in mind I think.”
97 pts, Georgina Hindle, Decanter
272669 $350
Opening with heavy minerality, chalk with some wet stone. Red, ripe fruit. A very nice wine with lots of acidity. Medium tannins and very dry.
147
Château Phélan Ségur,
St‑Estèphe
“Plush and warm in feel, this offers plum and blackberry compote notes flecked with chestnut and bay and underscored by warm stone and leather through the finish. Broad and slow-moving, but with clear definition, plus a nice muscular edge that hints at its buried power. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2040.”
95 pts, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
272752 $125
Opening with lightish scents, minerality and cheese. Dark in colour with medium tannins. Rich, very nice indeed. Good acidity.
194
Château Coutet, Barsac (L)
“Ripe, unctuous and deliciously rendered, this pumps out orange blossom, peach, apricot and pineapple upside-down cake notes that are seamlessly stitched with bitter almond and orange threads. Offers a long, seductively glazed finish. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Drink now through 2045.”
95 pts, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
346302 375 ml 6 bottle limit
$55
Delightful scents of apple strudel. Very herbaceous. Lingering flavours of apple.
You will no doubt have picked up on the fact that I lean toward the more affordable of the selections. That in no way takes away from the selection of wonderful wines that were tasted but rather a flaw I think is shared amongst women. That is to be unduly influenced by price point, probably not what you’re thinking but the opposite, I definitely have an affinity for value so tend to often let the good value wines predominate my selections. That being said there is not a wine on this list that is not worth the value of its price point.
View the 2022 Bordeaux catalogue here.
Participating Stores
2022 Bordeaux will be available at the following stores on Saturday, September 27, 2025:
Metro Vancouver
39TH & CAMBIE
5555 Cambie St
Vancouver, BC V5Z 3A3
604 660 9463
8TH & CAMBIE
2395 Cambie St
Vancouver, BC V5Z 2T9
604 660 0158
ALBERNI & BUTE
768 Bute St
Vancouver, BC V6E 4H6
604 660 4572
ARBUTUS
2120 Lahb Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6J 4R1
LANGLEY
6435–201 St
Langley, BC V2Y 0G8
604 532 4911
LYNN VALLEY
15–1199 Lynn Valley Road
North Vancouver, BC V7J 3H2
604 981 0014
MEADOWTOWN
Unit 810–19800 Lougheed Hwy
Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2W1
604 460 2601
NICOLA STATION
#140–1097 Nicola Ave
Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 8B2
604 464 3576
NORDEL CROSSING
Unit 116–12080 Nordel Way
Surrey, BC V3W 1P6
604 501 3201
NORTHGATE
Unit 103–3433 North Road
Burnaby, BC V3J 0A9
604 664 0844
PARK ROYAL
785 Park Royal North
West Vancouver, BC V7T 2W4
604 981 0011
PENINSULA VILLAGE
280–15355–24th Ave
Surrey, BC V4A 2H9
604 535 8259
RICHMOND BRIGHOUSE
604 660 1704
CAULFEILD
195–5335 Headland Dr
West Vancouver, BC V7W 3C6
604 922 8201
CLOVERDALE
101–17780 56 Ave
Surrey, BC V3S 1C7
604 574 4452
DUNBAR
3453 Dunbar St
Vancouver, BC V6S 2C3
604 224 4412
HIGHGATE VILLAGE
235–7155 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC V5E 2V1
604 660 8731
KERRISDALE
2058 W 41st Ave
Vancouver, BC V6M 1Y8
604 266 6922
100–8100 Ackroyd Rd
Richmond, BC V6X 3K2
604 278 2343
Stores will open at 8:00 a.m on September 27.
Product Consultants will be available at all Bordeaux Release stores to assist you with your purchases.
BOTTLE LIMITS
RICHMOND IRONWOOD
3170–11666 Steveston Hwy
Richmond, BC V7A 5J3
604 664 0701
RICHMOND SEAFAIR
100–8671 No. 1 Rd
Richmond, BC V7C 1V2
604 277 4216
SOLO
4455 Skyline Drive
Burnaby, BC V5C 0H6
604 660 1007
TSAWWASSEN
1319h 56th St
Delta, BC V4L 2A6
604 943 3322
UBC WESBROOK VILLAGE
101–3313 Shrum Lane
Vancouver, BC V6S 0C8
604 225 5220
WESTWOOD CENTRE
100–2748 Lougheed Hwy
Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 6P2
604 927 2681
WHISTLER MARKET PLACE
101–4360 Lorimer Rd
Whistler, BC V0N 1B4
604 932 7251
Vancouver and Gulf Islands
BROADMEAD VILLAGE
HILLSIDE
87–1644 Hillside Ave
Victoria, BC V8T 2C5
250 952 4033
370 777 Royal Oak Dr
Victoria, BC V8X 4V17
250 744 1622
FORT STREET
1960 Foul Bay Rd
Victoria, BC V8R 5A7
250 952 4220
VICTORIA WESTSHORE
Unit 600–2945 Jacklin Rd
Langford, BC V9B 5E3
250 391 2811
Interior
KAMLOOPS COLUMBIA PLACE
600–1210 Summit Dr
Kamloops, BC V2C 6M1
250 828 4319
KELOWNA ORCHARD PARK
109–1835 Dilworth Dr
Kelowna, BC V1Y 9T1
250 861 7337
KELOWNA MISSION PARK
35–3155 Lakeshore Rd
Kelowna, BC V1W 3S9
250 861 7260
PRINCE GEORGE PINE CENTRE
3173 Massey Dr
Prince George, BC V2N 2S9
250 561 5608
VERNON
Unit 245A Village Green Mall
4900 27th St
Vernon, BC V1T 7G7
250 503 3610
Wine notes, information and bottle shots courtesy of BC Liquor Stores. My notes (in italics). Image (except logo and bottle shots) MyVanCity.