Winemaker Notes
Château Du Parc is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc matured in 50% new oak (medium toast). It has a rounded and opulent bouquet with a boysenberry jam and raspberry nose. This wine is quite modern in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and good acidity. The wine has a rich red color with sheen and great intensity. Very ripe, red fruit notes on the nose contrast with spicy notes with beautiful complexity. On the palate, it has a great onset; frank, direct, and sustained by beautiful red fruits throughout the tasting which linger in the mouth. Spicy and light wooden notes are present throughout.
Let the wine breathe for at least 60 minutes before enjoying. It is is best enjoyed after it has been decanted with sharp cheeses, red meat, succulent duck, or a fine cigar.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Beautiful aromas of currants, berries, fresh herbs and roses follow through to a medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful, gorgeous finish. Needs time to soften.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.