Wines Pauillac Château Hart-Milon - 2022

Viniou Reviews

Château Hart-Milon 2022 from Pauillac is a quintessential representative of Bordeaux’s Left Bank excellence, crafted predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot and perhaps a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot—a classic blend for the Médoc region. The 2022 vintage was marked by warmth and dry conditions, leading to wines of concentration and ripe tannins, balanced by Pauillac’s hallmark structure and aromatic depth. The terroir here features well-drained gravelly soils over limestone and clay, offering ideal conditions for robust, age-worthy reds. Traditional vinification, with meticulous selection and élevage in oak barrels, ensures a wine combining power, finesse, and the ability to evolve beautifully over a decade or more.

Pauillac itself sits at the heart of the Médoc on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, renowned globally for its gravelly ridges that promote perfect vine drainage. This terroir, coupled with the temperate maritime climate regulated by the Gironde estuary, imparts both elegance and lasting vitality to its wines. Pauillac’s history is steeped in the development of some of the world’s most prized red wines, with neighbours such as Latour and Lafite conferring a certain prestige by association. The commune’s reputation is built on its extraction of deep, concentrated Cabernet fruit, delivering signature notes of blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and violets, especially pronounced in youthful vintages such as 2022.

Pair this Pauillac with classic French cuisine that can stand up to its depth and structure. Consider roast rack of lamb with rosemary, beef Wellington, or duck breast with a red wine reduction. Regional pairings shine as well: entrecôte à la bordelaise, served with Bordelaise sauce, or a selection of hard cheeses like Comté or Cantal.

For optimal enjoyment, decant the wine for at least an hour to allow youthful tannins to soften and the bouquet to open up. Serve at 16-18°C to enhance the aromatic complexity and structure. While approachable in its youth with proper decanting, this 2022 will reward those with patience, gaining increased nuance and harmony over the next decade.