Lirac & Tavel 2022
Tavel vineyards.
(Image credit: Inter Rhône)

Lirac

On top of drought and intense heat in 2022, the west bank of the Rhône also had to deal with hail, which caused localised damage.

Château de Manissy, La Belle Etoile, Tavel, Rhône, France 2022

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Pale red in colour. Some slight reduction but still assertive aromatics: strawberry, pomegranate and cranberry. This has a lovely fresh mouthfeel, there are little herbal...

2022

RhôneFrance

Château de ManissyTavel

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Château de Manissy, Langoustière, Tavel, Rhône, France 2022

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Dark pink. Strawberry hard candy on the nose and palate, it has an assertive, powerful presence on the tongue, a touch of fine tannin, generous,...

2022

RhôneFrance

Château de ManissyTavel

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Domaine Lafond, La Relève, Tavel, Rhône, France 2022

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A dark pinky-purple colour. A savoury, slightly herbal-scented style with a dry finish. An insistent rosé, more like a pale red really, with a little...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine LafondTavel

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Château de Manissy, Cuvée Trinité, Tavel, Rhône, France 2022

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A peculiar wine, certainly fresh, with a little touch of fine tannin. Straight, focused, refreshing, with good acidity and energy. It’s very vinous, highly individual....

2022

RhôneFrance

Château de ManissyTavel

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Domaine des Carabiniers, Lunar Apogé Beige, Tavel, France 2022

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Pale orange/red colour. Full-bodied, with a touch of blood orange bitterness. Acidity is low, but the wine nonetheless has some impact, tension and precision. An...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine des CarabiniersTavel

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Domaine Lafond, La Vau et Clos, Tavel, Rhône, France 2022

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Dark pink. Has a touch of tannin, this is more of a clairet than a rosé. The acidity is adequately balanced, and it finishes dry....

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine LafondTavel

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Prieuré de Montézargues, Tavel, Rhône, France 2022

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This is very good, immediately expressive on the nose and palate. There’s good acidity and concentration, it feels very Tavel. Slightly raised alcohol perhaps, but...

2022

RhôneFrance

Prieuré de MontézarguesTavel

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Château de Montfaucon, Vin de Madame la Comtesse, Lirac, Rhône, France 2022

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Has some power and vinosity, with subtle fennel and aniseed notes. Long, with an inner freshness despite the low acidity. Slight waxy note, and a...

2022

RhôneFrance

Château de MontfauconLirac

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Domanie de Castel Oualou, Lirac, Rhône, France 2022

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Full-bodied and aromatic style of white Lirac, this has bold stone fruit flavours and plenty of concentration. Big but fresh, powerfully flavoursome without potent alcohol....

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine de Castel OualouLirac

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Rocca Maura, Lirac, Rhône, France 2022

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Aromatically discreet, but this is fulsome and cooling on the palate, with a gently creamy texture. The oak adds some shape and salinity. Interesting, very...

2022

RhôneFrance

Rocca MauraLirac

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Château d'Aqueria, Lirac, Rhône, France 2022

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Star fruit and pear notes, this feels quite early-picked, so not terribly deep, but there’s good freshness and acidity. Well balanced, with moderate alcohol. A...

2022

RhôneFrance

Château d'AqueriaLirac

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Château de Montfaucon, Baron Louis, Lirac, Rhône, France 2022

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Damson and prune fruit, it's towards the overripe in fruit, but the tannins are much better managed here than anywhere else in 2022. More precision...

2022

RhôneFrance

Château de MontfauconLirac

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Domaine de Castel Oualou, Réserve Syrah, Lirac, Rhône, France 2022

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Lovely lifted spicy freshness. Full-bodied, really quite luxurious in texture, with juicy blackberry pâte de fruit. Very well balanced and satisfyingly fruity. Good value.

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine de Castel OualouLirac

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Château de Montfaucon, Vin de Monsieur le Baron, Lirac, Rhône, France 2022

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Silky, full-bodied, concentrated, but the tannins, though robust, are more in balance with the wine compared to many 2022 Liracs. Still quite leathery, but long...

2022

RhôneFrance

Château de MontfauconLirac

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Matt Walls
Decanter's Rhône coresspondent, and DWWA Regional Chair for the Rhône.

Matt Walls is an award-winning freelance wine writer and consultant, contributing regular articles to various print and online titles including Decanter, where he is a contributing editor. He has particular interest in the Rhône Valley; he is chair of the Rhône panel at the Decanter World Wine Awards and is the owner of travel and events company www.rhoneroots.com.