Bordeaux
The vintage
The 2020 vintage was capricious, with a very mild winter that favoured early budburst. Spring was very damp and rainy, causing poor fruit set for some grape varieties and significant pressure from downy mildew. During the summer, a heatwave blocked ripening of the berries, particularly on the Left Bank with its gravelly and well-drained soils. The Right Bank and the Entre-Deux-Mers were favoured, due to the water retention of their clay soils. The 2020 harvest was one of the earliest on record. On the strength of this very fine vintage, DBR Lafite has produced Pavillon du Lac by selecting Merlot grapes from vines that are more than 30 years old. Produced in limited quantities, the aim is to offer a generous and fruity wine.
Location
Pavillon du Lac Bordeaux red is a wine inspired by the greatest vintages of Bordeaux: sweetness, fullness of tannins and aromatic richness. For this reason, the selected vintages come from old vines of the Entre-deux-Mers region.
Terroir
To the south-east of Bordeaux, the Entre-Deux-Mers vineyard is located on the alluvial basins of the Dordogne and the Garonne rivers, offering a great diversity of soils including clay-limestone plots that are ideal for growing Merlot. For Pavillon du Lac, we have selected vines with good exposition, allowing the grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness and to express all the richness of this noble Bordeaux grape variety.
Winemaking
All winemaking choices have been made with the aim of best expressing the rich palette of these old Merlots. Vinification is carried out in stainless-steel tanks according to the traditional method, favouring gentle extraction of aromas and tannins. Ageing takes place without oak, so as to preserve the fruity aromas.
Grapes
Tasting
Attractive crimson colour with black reflections.
Very aromatic on the nose, with jammy notes of red fruit such as raspberries and redcurrants with hints of wild berries. Full on the palate with a generous fruitiness, the ripe and silky tannins give the wine an attractive roundness. Good length on the finish.
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