Chateau Vieux Maillet 2005

The vineyards of Vieux Maillet are 30 years old on average and are made up of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Isabelle, Baudoin and their team carefully look after their vineyards during the growing season, pulling leaves and thinning the clusters if necessary to make sure that each bunch gets the sunlight and air it needs to ripen and stay healthy.

Harvest, the moment when a whole year's work is consecrated, usually begins in late September after the "Ban des Vendanges" is declared (the official decree allowing picking to begin). All the grapes are picked by hand and meticulously sorted in the vineyard so that nothing but the most ripe and most healthy of grapes enters the chai. Fermentation takes place in traditional cement tanks that are equipped for temperature control. Fermentation and maceration continue for around 15 days, with frequent "remontages" or pumping over. The wine is then aged in oak barrels between 18 and 24 months before bottling.