Chambertin, Clos de Bèze, Les Ouvrées Rodin, Grand Cru, Domaine Faiveley, Burgundy 2023 vs JCP Maltus, Les Astéries, (Magnum) 2022

JCP Maltus, Les Astéries, (Magnum) 2022

Les Astéries is named after the limestone found in and around St Émilion and the vineyard is miniscule, even by St Émilion standards – just 1.2ha! With 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the vines are over 80 years of age, meaning their roots often travel tens of metres down into the dense bedrock in search of water and it helps explain why the vines remained so healthy during the high heat of the vintage. From benchmark St Émilion Grand Cru Château Teyssier to icons Pontet Labrie and Le Dôme, Jonathan Maltus (with help of head winemaker Neil Whyte) has one of the most formidable ranges in Bordeaux and beyond, yet the wines always bear the Maltus stamp: his trademark “cashmere” tannins wrapped around a core rich, succulent fruit. The 2022 Les Astéries was produced exclusively for Honest Grapes, under the supervision of Rabbi Padwa of KLBD.