Château Canet, Minervois les Evangiles, 2022

Grapes

Syrah, Grenache

Vintage report

The 2022 vintage in Languedoc arrived after a punishing summer that tested even the most experienced vignerons. Extreme heat and drought stressed the vines throughout much of the growing season, forcing growers to make careful decisions about irrigation and harvest timing. Those who picked early captured freshness before the heat could strip away acidity, whilst others who waited found their fruit concentrated but sometimes cooked.

What emerged was a vintage of two faces: at its best, 2022 produced wines with remarkable intensity and concentration, particularly amongst the reds where Syrah and Grenache thrived in the heat. The wines show ripe, sun-baked character with powerful fruit, though the finest examples retained enough backbone to age gracefully. We're drinking them now with real pleasure, though the structured reds will reward patience over the next five to eight years. Not every producer navigated the challenging conditions successfully, making careful selection more important than usual.