Château Puygueraud
Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux
Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux, France
2022
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Where it is, October 2026
Approaching Peak: the peak window is ahead.
In 2026, this Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux is in its early window and approaching peak, with peak expected from 2027. The bottle's center is blackberry, red currant, currant, with tobacco, spice around it, so the drinking decision is less about raw age and more about whether the serious, chewy tannins have settled into the full-bodied build. Drink with patience or hold: the fresh acidity keeps the finish awake, while the recorded window says there is no need to rush unless the bottle is already mature in storage. Keep service calm and food-focused, because this is early window rather than a purely primary fruit wine.
The ‘22 Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux.
2022 Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux: blackberry, red currant with serious tannins, fresh acidity, and early-window timing for 2026.
Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) drinking timeline
Storage and bottle condition can shift the experience.
The peak window sits inside the broader full drinking arc.
Tasting note
Expect a clear Bordeaux color moving from ruby toward garnet, with the depth shaped by its full-bodied build. The nose starts with blackberry, red currant, currant, then turns toward tobacco, spice, giving the wine more contour than simple fruit sweetness. On the palate, serious, chewy tannins set the frame and fresh acidity keeps the middle from feeling heavy. The fruit profile stays faithful to the source note: no tropical gloss, no invented floral fireworks, just a focused red or dark-fruit core with savory Bordeaux accents. The finish should carry the wine's structural signature, either through cedar and tobacco, a stony edge, or a clean licorice-spice echo. Serve it as a table wine with air and food, not as a stand-alone cocktail glass.
The 2022 vintage
The 2022 Bordeaux season brought record heat, drought pressure, a rainfall deficit outside June, and mid-August rains that revived red grapes before an early harvest. For Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux, the year gives unusual ripeness and tannic power, so freshness is the key to keeping the wine balanced. the bottle's own tasting note remains the limit for flavor claims.
About Château Puygueraud
Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux fruit, serious, chewy tannins, fresh acidity, and the tobacco, spice details that keep the wine recognizably Bordeaux. The signature is not presented as grand-chateau mythology. It is a practical house expression built around Cabernet Sauvignon, a full-bodied build, and a finish that asks for food. blackberry, red currant, currant for the fruit lane, tobacco, spice for the savory lane, and a drinking window that rewards measured cellaring rather than hype.
From the cellar: pair with
Grilled hanger steak with shallot butter
Serious, chewy tannins meet the steak's char, while blackberry, red currant, currant keeps the pairing from turning austere.
Duck confit with lentils
Fresh acidity cuts through the duck fat, and the wine's tobacco, spice notes echo the lentils.
Mushroom farro with thyme
The full-bodied build has enough weight for grains, while tobacco, spice and serious, chewy tannins hold the earthy finish together.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 60-64F (16-18C)
- Decanting
- In 2026, decant 90 minutes for air to soften the fruit and tannin before the main course. A cleaner bottle can also stay cellared.
- Cellar Storage
- 55F (13C), 60-70% humidity, bottle on its side.
More from Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux, France
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Frequently Asked
When should I drink 2022 Château Puygueraud Francs - Côtes de Bordeaux?
The canonical CAI full drinking arc is 2025-2036. Within that arc, the peak window is 2027-2033. The full arc is the broader period the wine may drink well; the peak window is when it is most likely to show its best balance. Storage, fill level, cork condition, and preference can shift the decision. Taste before adding more air or holding the rest.
How long should I decant it in 2026?
In 2026, decant 90 minutes for air to soften the fruit and tannin before the main course. A cleaner bottle can also stay cellared. The goal is to let serious, chewy tannins and tobacco, spice relax without stripping away the blackberry, red currant, currant. Taste once when opened, then again at the suggested mark; if the wine already feels soft, move it to the table rather than chasing more air.
What food works best with this bottle?
Choose food with enough protein, fat or umami to meet the wine's structure. The best pairings use serious, chewy tannins, fresh acidity and full-bodied build as the guide: grilled beef for grip, duck or lamb for savory depth, and mushrooms or lentils when the bottle leans toward tobacco, cedar or earth.
What should I compare it with on Cellared?
Start with the broader Bordeaux hub, then compare the Cabernet Sauvignon lane for similar structure. For a sibling Bordeaux page, use Château Ripeau Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Grand Cru Classé);