Chateau Malescasse, Haut Medoc,Cru Bourgeois, Bordeaux, France,Red, 75cl
€29.50
In stock
Description
Producer: Chateau Malescasse
Region: Haut-Medoc
Country: France
Colour: Red
Terroir:
Sitting in a direct line with Margaux to the south and Saint-Julien to the north, Lamarque stands at the highest point of the Médoc, some 30 metres above sea level.
The 40 hectares of vineyards of the Château Malescasse sit on the crest of these famous gravelly croupes, a traditional Médoc term referring to softly rolling hills formed by large expanses of alluvial sediments deposited by the Garonne during the Quaternary Period. Composed of varying proportions of sand, gravel and clay in layers of varying depth, they cover the limestone bedrock and hold the key to the great wines of the left bank. It is these poor, well-drained soils, combined with the mild oceanic climate, which bring out the best in the great Médoc varieties: for centuries the local cabernets and merlots have achieved a level of distinction rarely matched elsewhere.
Vinification:
From the time the grapes reach the winery until the moment when the wine is bottled, the same respect for our raw materials dictates all the choices made in the vat room and the wine store. Gentle, selective methods for extracting the tannins and aromatic compounds, and extended vatting times with fermentation at carefully controlled temperatures, are followed by aging in medium-toast casks. These come from different cask makers to give even greater complexity to the wines.
A very good year. The Cabernet-Sauvignons have rarely been harvested so late, and this year they were exceptional, with great olfactory intensity and maturity and an aromatic freshness. Right from the start the wines displayed a high degree of fullness, elegance and balance.
Varieties and vinification:
53% Merlot, 38% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot. De-stemming. Vatting by gravity. Fermentation at between 26º and 28º with gentle punching-down for selective extraction of the tannins. Vatting takes 4 weeks. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in barrels which are 30% new wood. Vertical pneumatic pressing.
Tasting:
Purple-garnet in colour, the 2016 displays an intense nose of elderberry, blackcurrant, blackberry, myrtle and fresh raspberries against a background of light, mellow woodiness. The dense palate immediately reveals good volume, followed by a dense framework of fresh, mature tannins. Flavoursome, meaty, full-bodied and powerful, it develops robustly towards a finish which highlights the fullness of the fruit. Magnificent!
Food parings: Compliments fine dishes
Alcohol degree: 13,5%
