A truly leading Château of the Castillon appellation, this red is structured and intense, broad and layered. Grown in from higher altitude vineyards, the grapes give the wine a fabulous perfume with perfect balance and fine tannins giving an overarching sense of generosity and straight-forward deliciousness!
This is made in the classic style of vinifying separate lots in tank, amphora and oak vats, before ageing in a combination of all three for just under a year. The extraction is fascinating as there is ample weight and colour, but the wine remains gorgeously soft and approachable. Jean-Philippe thanks the amphorae for this ability to get colour and quality of flavour without the heavy tannins - indeed, it is something that many of the best wineries that I've encountered (even those of old friends!) are turning to using with increasing levels of quality and smoothness.
Before selling to Jean-Philippe, the family of Barons de Monbadon owned this property since the 1600s, but the original building is medieval in origin, owing its construction to (the English) King Edward 3rd in 1330. But the wine side fo the estate cam alive at the turn if the 21st Century when the conversion to organic viticulture saw the quality of its 25 hectares soar. To the notice of course of many others around, including our great friend Jean-Philippe Janoueix.
Interestingly blending Cabernet Franc and Merlot, in the Pomerol tradition, the grapes have a naturally fine structure that makes a hands-off approach to winemaking quite feasible. This is what Jean-Philippe wants to do because he believes that the fruit has so much to offer. With this in mind, he vinifies the grapes separately in stainless steel tanks and amphora, and only then ageing a small portion of the wine in 500-litre oak barrels for 6 months (in practice, to soften any edges and give some familiarity to the market) before a final blending process.
Jean-Philippe is the fourth generation of the Janoueix family to be in the wine business. The family originated from the region of Correze to the east of Bordeaux and Bergerac and just south of the oak forests of Limoges, famed for their barrel-making timber.
Jean Janoueix established a wine business in Bordeaux in 1867 and his son, Joseph, was the instigator of the plan to buy their own grapes, which then became vineyards and then properties, with Château La Croix Saint Georges and Château la Croix in Pomerol and Saint Emilion respectively in the 1930s. His son Jean-François was to continue this growth with significant purchases during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. our man Jean-Philippe joined his father in 1994 with his first vintage, and his own plans, purchasing Chateau Chambrun in Lalande de Pomerol. he turned this property into the benchmark for quality in Lalande before selling it in 2007. This interestingly seems to be a very normal practice of trading, investing and re-investing in properties to renew and replenish ones portfolio. Not quite the world in which we live, but that's ok too...
Region: Côtes de Castillon
Country: France
Grape(s): Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Style: Structured, Smooth, Powerful, Medium Full, Elegant, Dark, Complex
Best food matches: Venison, Steak, St Stephen's Day, Roasts, Red Meats, Poultry, Pork, Lamb, Hard Cheeses, Grills, Grilled Vegetables, Game, Fine Dining, Charcuterie, Casseroles, Beef
Alcohol: 13%
