Located in the southern Médoc peninsula, this 5th Growth Classified in 1855 is one of the oldest estates in the region (the Cantemerle estate dates back to the 12th century). After declining in the 1880s following the phylloxera crisis, it was acquired in 1981 by the SMA Group (a mutual insurance company for construction and public works companies), which successfully restored its unique Graves terroir. It has definitively (re)established itself as one of the region's major wines, and its wines, with their captivating aromatic profile, offer masterful precision and generous depth.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested with selective sorting. Total destemming, post-destemming sorting with a 28-30 day maceration period (1/3 of the time in fermentation and 2/3 in maceration). Each plot is vinified separately in large vats to promote tannin extraction. This is followed by selective racking by layer, and the wine is aged for 16 months, including 12 months in French oak barrels (35% new) and 4 months in vats after blending. No filtration is carried out before bottling.
Grape Varieties
59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot
Alcohol: 13.5%
Tasting Notes
This wine, with its deep garnet color, is very expressive, with notes of blackcurrant and prune. It benefited from a very sunny year and reveals a powerful, complex structure on the palate, yet with ethereal tannins.
Serving Suggestions
This wine pairs well with a variety of dishes, such as roast poultry, fine fish, and certain seafood like scallops and langoustine tails. When it comes to cheese, opt for uncooked pressed cheeses such as Reblochon, Cantal, or St-Nectaire. Serve at 16-19°C
