The hot summer of 2019 following the cool and wet spring, brought us this delicious deep red from Bordeaux. A classic wine at a great price point packed with dark fruits, elegant tannins and subtle oak. A customers favourite.
The grapes were hand picked and spent three to four weeks on skins fermenting at 28°C-30°C. Malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at temperatures of 22°C, followed by ageing for 12 months in barrel. This is 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
The producer:
The 14-hectare Château Laville in Sauternes is Jean-Christophe Barbe's family property. Professor of Oenology at Bordeaux University, he is mostly famous for his outstanding Sauternes, but also produces some stunning reds, albeit on a fairly small scale.
Jean-Christophe's original 1.3 hectares planted with red grape varieties are located in Laville, on a plot of land called Mahon, lending its name to this wine. Soils are predominantly clay and the average age of the vines is 15 years. The work that goes into it - leaf stripping to expose the fruit, crop thinning before véraison to lower yields and aid ripeness - all add to this great value Bordeaux.