Pauillac
The vintage
2021 will remain in the memory of winegrowers as one of the most difficult to master in the last thirty years: patience and investment were necessary until the end of this late harvest. The historic spring frost, which hit the whole of the French vineyard, led to a historically low harvest in Bordeaux as in 1991 and 2017. The cool, wet summer favoured the development of diseases. Cabernet Sauvignon is the grape variety of the vintage in Bordeaux because it benefited greatly from the good weather of the second half of September and the beginning of October, favouring its maturity. 2021 marks the return of an "old-fashioned" vintage, with moderate alcohol levels and very different balances (alcohol/acidity) from the last solar vintages (2018 and 2020).
Location
Pauillac is located 40km North of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Gironde estuary.
Terroir
Pauillac enjoys exceptional climatic and geological conditions to make outstanding wines. Three of the five First Growth of the 1855 classification are from this famous appellation. Sitting on a beautiful gravelly hilltop, it provides the perfect ripening conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in voluptuous, well-structured wines.
Winemaking
This wine is made using traditional method. The grapes are destemmed and crushed before being placed in thermoregulated stainless steel vats for fermentation. Fermentation is conducted at 30°C and is followed by 4 weeks of maceration with regular pumping-over to ensure a good extraction of tannins and color. After malolactic fermentation, 60% of the wine is transferred into French oak barrels coming from the Lafite cooperage, for a period of 12 months.
Tasting
Beautiful purple colour with good intensity
The nose is elegant, intense and aromatic, combining black cherry and blackcurrant aromas with discreet woody notes.
Ample and fleshy on the palate, with a robust tannic structure and a long fresh and aromatic finish with aromas of red fruit.
Alcohol content
12.5
Grapes
Cabernet sauvignon
: 60 %
Merlot
: 40 %