Pauillac
The vintage
Even though the 2020 season was rather whimsical, the winter was very mild winter, which favored early budbreak. The spring was wet and rainy, leading to some failed fruit set on some vines and increasing the risk of powdery mildew. During the summer, a heat wave, and an unprecedented drought (no rainfall between mid-June and mid-August) blocked berry ripening in some lots. The 2020 harvest was historically early and took place under a heat wave that lasted through the harvest period. The 2020 Pauillac wines are powerful, fresh, and elegant, with reasonable alcohol levels, good-density tannins, and higher acidity than previous vintages.
Location
Pauillac is located 40km North of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Gironde estuary.
Terroir
Pauillac enjoys exceptional climatic and geological conditions to make outstanding wines. Three of the five First Growth of the 1855 classification are from this famous appellation. Sitting on a beautiful gravelly hilltop, it provides the perfect ripening conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in voluptuous, well-structured wines.
Winemaking
This wine is made using traditional method. The grapes are destemmed and crushed before being placed in thermoregulated stainless steel vats for fermentation. Fermentation is conducted at 30°C and is followed by 4 weeks of maceration with regular pumping-over to ensure a good extraction of tannins and color. After malolactic fermentation, 60% of the wine is transferred into French oak barrels coming from the Lafite cooperage, for a period of 12 months.
Grapes
Tasting
Deep ruby red color.
Intensely cocoa- and coconut-scented nose from barrel aging. With swirling, balsamic notes appear, such as caramel, which combine with hints of sweet spices like clove.
On the palate, it is a typical and very elegant Pauillac, at the same time robust, dense, and very aromatic.
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