Hosanna

Château Hosanna, a jewel-like vineyard of just 4.5 hectares, is located in the heart of Pomerol’s central plateau, adjacent to some of the most illustrious crus of the appellation: Château Lafleur to the north; Château Petrus to the east; Château La Fleur-Pétrus to the west; Vieux Château Certan to the south. The vineyard of Château Hosanna has a long and rich history. Prior to its purchase by Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1999, Hosanna was known as Château Certan Giraud, considered one of the premier crus of Pomerol since the 1950’s. It was originally part of the de May family estate, who settled on Pomerol’s plateau in the 16th century and planted one of the appellation’s first vineyards there.

Only the highest plateau parcels of its previous incarnation were selected to form Château Hosanna. The vineyard enjoys a terroir of red gravel and clay on “crasse de fer” which is known for producing wines of great elegance, complexity, and power. Old Cabernet Franc vines, a significant portion of which date back to 1956, contribute a unique complexity to the cru.

Winemaker notes

A marriage of intensity, purity and balance, its silky touch has led some to describe Hosanna as the feminine counterpart to Trotanoy.

2012

Wine Advocate 97: Close to perfection, this extraordinary blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc seems to have hit all the high notes in 2012. Inky ruby/purple with stunning concentration, a multidimensional mouthfeel, skyscraper-like texture and fabulous purity of blue, red and black fruits, this is a tour de force from this estate owned by Christian Moueix. The potential complexity and sheer compelling quality of Hosanna is amazing. Aromatically, this may be the most profound wine of the vintage. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.

James Suckling 95: Fascinating aromas of crushed raspberries, stones and flowers. Full-bodied, dense and concentrated with fruit, wet concrete and walnut skin. A wine that is tight and structured. Needs time to soften. Try in 2022.

Vinous 94: The 2012 Hosanna is the ripest, most exuberant wine in the Moueix stable this year. Plum, crème de cassis, cloves, licorice and lavender race across the palate. Hosanna is quite possibly the most flamboyant Pomerol of the vintage. Layers of super-ripe blue and purplish-hued fruit build as this deep, exotic wine shows off its distinctive personality. Personally, I find the style a bit over the top, but the Hosanna is undoubtedly very fine.

Wine Enthusiast 94: Firm, closed and still tough, this wine has enormous potential. It's concentrated and impressively dense, dark with the fruits layered with acidity and tannins. It does have much of the bold fruit of the vintage that will develop gradually. For now, it is a brooding wine, waiting to come round. Drink from 2024.

2014

Wine Advocate 97: Close to perfection, this extraordinary blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc seems to have hit all the high notes in 2012. Inky ruby/purple with stunning concentration, a multidimensional mouthfeel, skyscraper-like texture and fabulous purity of blue, red and black fruits, this is a tour de force from this estate owned by Christian Moueix. The potential complexity and sheer compelling quality of Hosanna is amazing. Aromatically, this may be the most profound wine of the vintage. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.

James Suckling 93: Aromas of stewed fruit, stones and green olives. Full and round textured with chocolate and spice character. Long, velvety mouth feel on the finish. Fresh. Sexy for the vintage. Better in 2017.

Wine Enthusiast 94: This is a small, 10-acre property, owned by the Moueix family, at the heart of the Pomerol plateau. With its 30% Cabernet Franc it is perfumed and ripe, giving delicious black fruits as well as a firmer structure. The wine is set for a long aging with great potential. Drink from 2024.

2021

Wine Advocate 93: The 2021 Hosanna offers a solid showing in bottle, mingling aromas of cassis and minty blueberries with notions of baking chocolate, licorice and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, it's comparatively rich for the vintage, with sweet, powdery tannins and a spicy finish.

James Suckling 95: This is polished and fragrant, expressing notes of plums, mulberries, chocolate, nutmeg and hazelnuts. Medium- to full-bodied, silky and elegant with creamy layers of dark fruit. Very fine tannins. Long and seamless. Try after 2026.

Vinous 92: The 2021 Hosanna is a pretty, understated wine. In 2021, Hosanna is quite floral and delicate, without is typical rich personality. In exchange, it will drink well right out of the gate. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, spice and orange peel linger.

Decanter 94: Ripe and fragrant black fruit on the nose, cherries and blackcurrants. Grippy, vibrant and rich, an element of quite perfumed fruit here. It tastes on the border of being overly ripe in terms of fruit concentration, but has a very lean, direct texture that is streamlined with an undercurrent of liquorice, cola and salty minerality. It comes together nicely on the chalky, slightly spiced finish. Charming and confident.

Wine Enthusiast 95: Cedar and sandalwood aromas come from this wine. They presage great richness with ripe blackberry fruits alongside the dense tannins. A blend of Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc, the wine is ripe and juicy, with a firm aftertaste, set for aging. Drink from 2028.

2023

Wine Advocate 92-94: Rich and gourmand, the 2023 Hosanna wafts from the glass with aromas of ripe berries, baked red fruits and cherries, framed by hints of fresh mint and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's a rich, textural wine with a ripe core of slightly liqueured fruit, supple tannins and a long, vanillin-inflected finish.

James Suckling 98-99: Wow. This is really structured and sizzling with dark fruit, such as blackberries and blueberries. Salty, racy aftertaste. The tannins are energetic and so long, driving the wine through an almost endless finish. Lots of old vines used for this. 74% merlot and 26% cabernet franc.