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AOC Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

The vintage

2016 was a remarkable vintage in the Bordeaux region, reminiscent of the legendary 1990 in terms of both quantity and quality! The mild and rainy winter, was followed by a very wet cold spring, which fortunately didn’t hinder the flowering. Spring gave way to a dry and hot summer which continued into a nice Indian summer with sufficient rain to enable the grapes to reach optimal ripeness. The resulting wines are rich, smooth and fruity with unusually ripe tannins and deep colours.

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 Bordeaux methods, 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 three weeks of maceration with regular pumping-over to ensure a gentle extraction of the tannins. After malolactic fermentation, 60% of the wine is transferred into French oak barrels for a period of 12 months.

Grapes

75 %
Cabernet sauvignon
25 %
Merlot

Tasting

Deep purple robe with black hints The nose is complex and discreet, the bouquet will further develop upon ageing. Swirling of the glass will reveal notes of underwood, spices and pencil lead delicately woven together. Assertive on the palate, this full-bodied wine shows great persistence and rich flavours. Clearly a keeping wine. Serving temperature: 16 to 18°C This wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for another 5 to 7 years.

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