A robust Pomerol with earthy and rustic notes complemened by hints of leather and a chunky finish. Producer Note Château de Valois dates back to 1862 when the original vineyards of Château Figeac were restructured. In 1962, Bernard Leydet owned the vineyard comprising eight hectares. Over time, he added to the Pomerol plots and concentrated on improving the quality through improved vineyard management techniques and investment of the cellar. In 1996 Bernard’s son Frédéric Leydet took over, continuing the legacy left by his father and produces truly great Pomerol wines. Vintage The season was marked by contrasting weather during the summer period. Cool and wet conditions were seen during flowering and throughout July and most of August, delaying the growth cycle. The vintage was saved by dry, warm weather at the end of August and the beginning of September. The Indian summer brought with it good thermal amplitudes which encouraged the ripening of the grapes. The red are beautifully fragranced with supple tannins. Vineyard Located on the southern slopes of the plateau of the Pomerol appellation, the vines are double Guyot trained. The vineyard soils are made up of gravel and sand with subsoil of iron pan. The harvest takes place manually. Winemaking Fermentation took place in small temperature controlled concrete vats for 28 days. The wine was matured for 15 months in oak barrels, of which one third was new; one third was one year old oak and one third was two year old oak. The wine was aged on its fine lees, without any racking. Tasting Note The nose is bursting with black berries, exotic spice and hints of smoky oak and cedar. On the palate, the texture is rich and generous, with soft tannins. The finish has a good freshness and is full of lingering ripe fruit. Serving Suggestion Perfect with duck, game or grilled red meats. Grape Merlot 77%, Cabernet Franc 19%, Cabernet Sauvignon 3%, Malbec 1% Gift notes can also be included at no charge, please leave your gift message in the ’notes’ box.
