In contrast to the previous vintage, when picking on this north-facing slope in the eastern environs of Oakville took place over a long stretch of days, the 2022 harvest at St. Eden was among the briefest of the BOND crus, spanning the days from September 4th to the 8th.

The iodine-dark color and black fruit present here belie the dynamic currents that run beneath this expression’s concentrated elegance. Exceptionally fine-grained tannins gather on the periphery of the palate, migrating steadily toward its center, while a bolt of acidity pierces the density and enlivens a playful dance, generating an exhilarating and refreshing arc of electricity.

Harvest at this site—located on a north-facing knoll in the eastern part of Oakville—took place over a longer period than its siblings. The iron-rich volcanic soils, in this case, rendered a taut yet incredibly precise expression.

An interplay of fruit and savory notes defines the nose, as sweet herbs enwreathe a heart of dark cassis made piquant by faint hints of iron. The inviting aromatics give way on the palate to an energetic tension, as densely textured tannins seem to expand to the outer edges of sensation. With these sensory limits stretched, the wine then pulls inward, gathering back its considerable vitality to frame an extended finish, uniting with fresh acidity to form a harmonic whole.

A warm, rainless winter and cool start of spring seem to have only brightened the radiance of the fruit from St. Eden. This expression retains the site’s distinctive architecture and allure, yet its silhouette is more fine-boned than curvaceous, its temperament more reflective than flamboyant.

The fragrance summons a landscape awash with scents of lavender and wild herbs. Ripe black fruit anchors the aromatics, while the palate lends weight and solidity. The tannins are polished, centered—almost cylindrical—and draped in folds of elevated acidity. Like the carved-marble curves of classical sculpture, these elements, together, create a pleasing tension between indelible structure and captivating fluidity.

St. Eden also underwent a record-late bloom. The remaining phenological events of the year followed suit, occurring later than at sister sites, due in part to the north-facing aspect of its slope. Contrary to the general vintage trend, yields here were lower than usual. Harvest—which spanned nearly three weeks and required 12 passes—began in the first half of September and concluded on October 9th.

The wine delves beneath a crisp, mineral surface into an ample richness that balances on the precipice of the hedonic. A momentary inflection on the midpalate elevates this intensity before subsiding in favor of a fresh, focused acidity that carries through the prolonged finish.

Due to the low rainfall in winter, we pruned the vines shorter than in previous years to focus the growth. This decision ultimately led to a lower yield than is typical for this site. An unexpected but welcome rainfall in the early spring allowed the vines to grow to their potential. Harvest began in the last days of September and was completed nearly one week later.

Dark fruits intermixed with hints of fresh herbs create a nuanced nose. The wine enters flush with fleshy textures, while an undercurrent of acidity emerges next, carrying the wine’s mineral tinges along the palate. The wine is slightly svelte yet retains depth. The long finish is defined by an unforgettable vibration that keeps the wine both alive and vivid.

Budbreak occurred within a typical timeframe, and most of the year was quite uneventful, other than a minor hail storm in June, which required some diligent work from the team to remedy. Harvest commenced on September 1st and spread out over more than a month until the fire broke out. Fortunately, we had harvested all of the oldest vines from the vineyard pre-fires.

The texture of St. Eden draws you into a harmonious interplay between levity and gravity. St. Eden’s virtue lies in this duo of its external beauty with intellectual depth. This vintage manifests more of its erudite character, displaying innumerous facets and details. The acidity is both fine and diffuse within a seamless texture that gains definition over an everlasting finish.

The growing season began at the end of March and proceeded gracefully through bloom and veraison. Harvest started on September 21st and concluded two weeks later, after a total of 15 harvest passes. Yields in the old vines were quite low, but the expression of character was delightfully pure.

The virtue of St. Eden is hidden beneath its often voluptuous proportions, which can blind one to its depth of character. Aromas vacillate between ripe cassis and Provençal herbs. The entry of the wine is robust, but this impression gives way to fluid silkiness. The wine moves effortlessly across the palate, becoming exponentially finer, until it ultimately balances on a single focal point, giving birth to a persistent interplay of acidity, flavor, and texture.

From the beginning of the year St. Eden showed the potential to ripen early. As the year weathered on, the maturity of the site became more and more fragmented along the slope. To address this the team harvested almost twenty distinct lots in order to capture each piece at its optimal moment. Additionally, whereas picking was compressed at other sites, here harvest was spread over more than two weeks.

The nose is uncharacteristically dark and brooding. The nuances of graphite and Provençal herbs are subtly intertwined. The classic duality between hedonic fruit and cool minerality is at play lending the wine both gravity and levity in the same moment. The tannins are rich and fleshy upfront, but as they linger the telltale silkiness of this wine is revealed.

Good canopy vigor allowed the grapes to ripen in mottled sunlight. In late August the fruit displayed great depth of character. By the first week of September the first grapes were ready to be picked. The rockiest part of the vineyard was collected first and then harvest proceeded down the crest of this north facing knoll.

The nose carries the characteristic dark fruit and crème de cassis, and a very light hint of sage. The tell-tale yin and yang is in full display: Hedonic richness woven with cool minerality. The tannins serve as a guiding force, but are ever so fine as they persist on the finish.

The season began in early April, but the vineyard seemed intent on commencing harvest before September. Luckily, without too many instances of excessive heat during the summer months, the fruit began to stretch its legs as ripening slowed. Harvest began without incident, and from the beginning the fruit seemed to have an extra layer of vibrancy, density, and plushness.

Black cherries, sage, rosemary, and a touch of black truffle make for an elusive and complex nose. Extremely rich and borderline hedonic upon entry. The wine has layers of flesh and baby fat, which are swiftly counter-balanced by a cooling of the palate caused by a tremendous degree of natural acidity. These opposing forces synergistically combine to form the hallmark silkiness of St. Eden.