Product Information:
A natural claret from Barsac made from 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc & 10% Petit Verdot. Vinification from 4 to 8 weeks in concrete vats. A fresh powerful wine low in tannins, that's just easy drinking. There's hints of sweet spice and pepper. It shows dark, plummy fruit character with a wisp of cedar, violet, tobacco, and smoke. Lean and savoury on the palate but with a bit more density, pretty dark berry fruits and dried green herbs marry well with a hint of blood orange peel. Very elegant and fantastic with a steak!
Maker:
Château Massereau practices their viticulture to an extreme level with a constant search for improvement at all stages from vineyard to cellar to make original and naturally authentic wines. Massereau works naturally, but the style here is traditional. Their reds are elegant and structured, and they age very well. Located in Barsac only thirty kilometres southeast of Bordeaux, Château Massereau dominates the landscape with its three towers and the rows of vines that descend to Ciron.
The estate was acquired in 2000 by the Chaigneau family, and extends over 19 hectares of which only 10 hectares are planted for production and planted close at 6,600 - 7000 plants/hectare density. The Massereau vineyard stood its ground witnessing intensified industrialised production throughout the rest of the appellation. The Family have decided to farm the vineyard as naturally as possible and there are no chemicals used or additives in the wines. The vines have responded well producing redolent dry wines, that are structured powerful and elegant. Everything you want out of a French claret.
Vineyard:
Château Massereau has a carefully considered vineyard. In the early stages there was careful clonal selection, they chose clones that would preserve regional typicity and showcase identity of the site. With frequent rains in Bordeaux there are many reactive measures in response to erosion. Ch. Massereau is proactive with their soil work, tending to under row and between rows to create more resilient soils. My planting nutritious vegetative cover they avoid soil amendments. The coverage also promotes microfauna and microflora, which contribute to better decomposition of soil nutrients and trace elements, while preventing erosion during heavy rains. Each season vines are trained to have fewer bunches per plant to control yields and improve concentration of flavour. Vines and canopies are trained to improve sap flow, improve access for leaf removal to control yields
The winemaking follows suit with a minimalist approach. No inputs are added during fermentations, favouring wild ferments, while only using small amount of sulphur during aging, for certain cuvées - this quality first approach preserves the integrity of flavour, aroma, and texture of the wine. Apart from that, no modern industrial techniques are used. No filtration or fining.
Nose - Blackberry, Seaweed, Truffle
The nose presents blackberry, black cherry, nori, truffle, a touch of garrigue
Palate - Silty, Fleshy Dark Fruits, Dried Herbs
There's fleshy, silty texture to it. Dense but supple tannin, quite earthy, with sweet and ripe
Finish - Raspberry, Gamey, Powdery Tannin
A smattering of dried herb savouriness, lots of charm. Powdery tannin keeping it tidy.
(2017) Blackberry, black cherry, a whiff of seaweed, truffle, a touch of mint and sage. It’s fleshy and silty, thick but supple tannin, quite earthy, but sweet and ripe in fruit with just a smattering of dried herb. Finish is more into raspberry, and while there’s a little wild gamey character, it only adds to the charm. A lot of powdery tannin closes it out. Chunky and rustic, but charming. - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Country - France
Region - Bordeaux
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
