Arbalest 2022
(Bordeaux, France) - [TWI 93]

Name: Arbalest 2022 (Bordeaux, France) - [TWI 93]
Brand: USA WINE WEST
Price: 21.97 USD
Availability: InStock

$30.00 $21.97 Save $8.03

3-PACK PRICE = $20.97 per item (add 3+ quantity to your basket)
6-PACK PRICE = $19.97 per item (add 6+ quantity to your basket)

TWI93

Size

750 mL

Quantity

Allow Vintage Substitution?

Description

Made by Napa winemaking star Benoit Touquette, previous winemaker for Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Ovid, Hartwell, Arietta, and the current winemaker of Realm, Fait-Main, and Kata.

In creating the 2022 Arbalest Bordeaux, Touquette sourced fruit from both the Left Bank, where Cabernet Sauvignon reigns supreme, and the Right Bank, where Merlot shines.

On the palate, this wine is rich and full-bodied, with a round, supple mouthfeel driven by the Merlot. Blackcurrant, dark plum, and cherry flavors emerge first, accented by a spiciness and minerality that provide complexity and depth. The structure and tannic backbone of the Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon are unmistakable, giving the wine a subtle austerity that promises solid aging potential. The balance between ripe fruit and silky tannins demonstrates Touquette’s skill in managing two different varietals and terroirs in harmony. The finish is long and memorable, with lingering notes of dark chocolate, toasted oak, and a touch of salinity.

Ratings & Reviews

93 Points, #4 Top QPR for 2024 - The Wine Independent:
"Made by a Bordeaux winemaker who moved to Napa and is now the winemaker and a partner at Realm, Benoit Touquette, the deep garnet-purple colored 2022 Arbalest is a blend of 60% Merlot (from the Right Bank) and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (from the Médoc). Black cherries, juicy plums, and black raspberry scents jump from the glass, followed by hints of cinnamon toast, potpourri, and black pepper. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock full of savory spiked black berry layers, supported by plush tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long with a peppery lift. 2000 cases were made. This would benefit from decanting but is approachable right now, or it will easily cellar for 8-10+ years. At an SRP of $22, this is a no-brainer bargain to stock up on.

I tasted this just a couple of weeks ago, and it was so good (and cheap) that the wine inspired this article...This iconoclastic blend of 60% Merlot from the Right Bank and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Médoc would be heresy if made by anyone but Benoit. He is not allowed to divulge his fruit sources, but let’s just say Benoit is pretty well connected in Bordeaux and the fruit tastes classified-y. 2022 was a warm, ripe, spectacular vintage, resulting in drop-dead deliciousness. Unfortunately, only 2000 cases were made. If you can find some, back the car up and load in all you can." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck (2016):
One of the best values in Bordeaux out there, the 2016 Arbalest comes from a mix of the Right and Left Banks and is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it has classic notes of black cherries, leafy herbs, chocolate, and damp earth. With nicely integrated acidity, fine tannins, and a beautiful sense of purity paired with plenty of richness, it's a no-brainer purchase to enjoy over the coming decade.

91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2016):
Here's a seriously fun Bordeaux wine that offers jaw-dropping great value, made by French native, Napa super-star winemaker Benoit Touquette. The 2016 Arbalest is a blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The Petit Verdot and the Cabernet Sauvignon come from the Left Bank. I’m not allowed to tell the name of the Château, but it’s in the Saint-Estèphe area. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc come from the Right Bank, where the soil is clay-limestone on limestone rock, with a southwest exposure.

Medium garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with notes of warm black plums, Black Forest cake, licorice and candied violets plus hints of fallen leaves and cedar chest. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with juicy black fruit, framed by ripe rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and spicy. 2,000 cases were made.

91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck (2015):
"Mostly Merlot blended with 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Arbalest was brought up 16 months in tank and 30% new oak. It offers a perfumed, gorgeous bouquet of plums, incense, spice and hints of forest floor. Full-bodied, ripe and rounded, with a sexy, opulent style, lots of mid-palate depth, and a great finish, it's well worth your time and money and is a smoking deal at 20 bucks. This wine comes from a collaboration between winemaker Benoit Touquette and importer/distributor Kimberly Jones." (12/29/17)