Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
Purchased in 2001 by Gérard Perse - Château Pavie, Pavie-Decesse, Monbousquet, Bellevue-Mondotte - Clos Lunelles shines with its vision of excellence, anchored to a first-class terroir composed of clay and limestone, in the natural extension of the Saint-Emilion limestone plateau. With state-of-the-art viticulture and ambitious technical means, the wines are a perfect example of concentrated yet elegant Bordeaux.
The Clos Lunelles vineyard covers 8.5 hectares of vines, composed of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. As at Gérard Perse’s other properties, everything has been done in the vineyard to obtain low yields and perfect maturity. Traditional and precise vinification and long maturation followed by 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new) without fining or filtering gives a complex bouquet of black fruits and a rich, deep and substantial structure.
Tended by Robert Parker himself, Clos Lunelles expresses without reserve the style of a straightforward wine, built for immediate pleasure.
Though the region is larger than many of its Right Bank neighbors, it is one that consistently produces high quality, well-valued red wines. In fact, Cotes de Castillon can almost be considered a geographical eastern extension of St. Emilion, producing similarly-fashioned reds based on Merlot.
Vineyards in the region’s clay, limestone and sandstone soils produce sturdy red wines. On alluvial terraces, in vineyards closer to the Dordogne River, wines tend to be more supple and fruity. In either case, a great Cotes de Castillon red will be bursting with raspberry, plum and blueberry, have an enticing bouquet of dried flowers and a finish that is plush and opulent.
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.