Downton Abbey Bordeaux Claret 2012
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Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec -- three of the classic grape varieties of Bordeaux – were blended together in crafting this wine. Fruit was sourced from premium vineyards in the eastern part of Entre-Deux-Mers, a terroir particularly well-suited to these varietals. The wine was made using traditional vinification practices: Each varietal was vinified separately including temperature-controlled macerations of 4-5 weeks for maximum extraction of flavour and colour. The wines were then aged an additional nine months prior to final blending.
Deep purple in color, this wine reveals gorgeous scents of wild berries including blackberries, raspberries and black currants in the glass. Additional spicy notes and hints of violet are contributed by the Malbec. On the round, well-balanced palate, more ripe fruit flavours merge seamlessly with velvety tannins from the Merlot. Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend gives added freshness, backbone and age-worthiness to this authentic Bordeaux bottling.
An excellent food wine, enjoy this Bordeaux Claret with chesses, game, grilled red meats, hearty stews and more.
Blend: 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec
Enlisting time-honored winemaking practices, as well as modern techniques, Downton Abbey Wines are crafted with premium fruit from the famed Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux, France by Dulong Grand Vins, a family-owned vineyard with more than 130 years of winemaking experience.
Fifth-generation winemaker Jean-Marc Dulong (whose ancestors might well have made the very wines enjoyed at Downton) has created a collection of wines that are eminently drinkable: Downton Abbey Blanc is a light and crisp white blend, while Downton Abbey Claret is a medium-bodied red with bright fruit and a silky finish.
In most of France, wines are named by their place of origin and not by the type of grape (with the exception of Alsace). Just like a red Burgundy is by law, always made of Pinot noir, a red Bordeaux is a blended wine composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Depending on the laws of the village from which the grapes come, the conditions of the vintage and decisions of the winemaker, the blend can be further supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and in rare cases, Carmenere. So popular and repeated has this mix of grape varieties become worldwide, that the term, Bordeaux Blend, refers to a wine blended in this style, regardless of origin.