10/28/2026
KRAMER’S MARKET | W**E OF THE WEEK
Château Fage 2022
Graves de Vayres, Bordeaux, France
The French have a rather wonderful relationship with time. They understand that some things cannot be hurried. A good meal, a meaningful conversation, the making of a fine w**e. All require a certain patience, and perhaps more importantly, an appreciation for the moments spent waiting.
This week’s selection takes us to Graves de Vayres, a small appellation in Bordeaux, along the Dordogne River, where gravelly soils and generations of w**emaking tradition have helped shape w**es of remarkable character.
Château Fage 2022 is a beautiful example.
Composed of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a thoughtful addition of Petit Verdot and Malbec, this elegant red spends eight months resting in French oak barrels before finding its way into the world.
The result is a wonderfully expressive Bordeaux, with notes of ripe blackberries, dark cherries, toasted spice, and a gentle suggestion of licorice. Medium in body, with polished tannins, lively acidity, and a smooth finish touched by chocolate, it manages to be both sophisticated and wonderfully approachable.
And the critics have taken notice. James Suckling awarded this vintage 90 points, while the prestigious French Guide Hachette des Vins recognized it with a coveted Coup de Cœur, a distinction reserved for w**es that truly capture the hearts of its tasting panel.
But perhaps the most beautiful thing about w**e is that its worth is not measured entirely in points, vintages, or the opinions of experts.
Sometimes a wonderful bottle is simply the one you open on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday. The one that accompanies a dinner that runs a little longer than expected, or a conversation that wanders from the weather to the things we haven’t spoken about in years.
There is a quiet sort of happiness in those evenings. The kind that doesn’t announce itself, but stays with us long after the glasses have been cleared.
Pair this lovely Bordeaux with a roasted dinner, a good steak, aged cheeses, or simply the pleasure of having someone worth sharing it with.
Available this week at Kramer’s Market, right here in Richmond’s Museum District.
Kramer’s Market. We’re raising the bar, one Bordeaux at a time.
(Still working on that slogan.)
