Winemaker Notes
The grapes are tripple sorted: 1st in the vines, 2nd on the complete bunch on the sorting table and 3rd by individual grapes on the sorting table. Vatting is done by gravity without pumping. Alcholic fermentation in stainless steel and coated steel temperature controlled vats. Barrel aged for 18 months.
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Right Bank consultant Stephane Derenoncourt was brought in as the lead consultant at this noble estate in Pessac-Leognan. As a result, the tannins are sweeter, the oak is more subtle and better integrated, and the wine is more textured and complex. An evolved, complex bouquet of black currants, forest floor, smoked herbs, and sweet cherries as well as currants emerges from the 2003. It displays supple tannin, medium to full body, beautiful purity, and a classic, elegant finish. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2019.
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Wine Spectator
Intense aromas of blackberry, cherry, tobacco and milk chocolate. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a beautiful finish of ripe fruit and light earth. Very balanced and refined. Delicious already. Best after 2010. 7,500 cases made. –JS
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.
Recognized for its superior reds as well as whites, Pessac-Léognan on the Left Bank claims classified growths for both—making it quite unique in comparison to its neighboring Médoc properties.
Pessac’s Chateau Haut-Brion, the only first growth located outside of the Médoc, is said to have been the first to conceptualize fine red wine in Bordeaux back in the late 1600s. The estate, along with its high-esteemed neighbors, La Mission Haut-Brion, Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pique-Caillou and Chateau Pape-Clément are today all but enveloped by the city of Bordeaux. The rest of the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan are in clearings of heavily forested area or abutting dense suburbs.
Arid sand and gravel on top of clay and limestone make the area unique and conducive to growing Sémillon and Sauvignon blanc as well as the grapes in the usual Left Bank red recipe: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and miniscule percentages of Petit Verdot and Malbec.
The best reds will show great force and finesse with inky blue and black fruit, mushroom, forest, tobacco, iodine and a smooth and intriguing texture.
Its best whites show complexity, longevity and no lack of exotic twists on citrus, tropical and stone fruit with pronounced floral and spice characteristics.