Vieux Château Mazerat Emilion Grand Cru 2016

€180.00

Content: 0.75 Litre (€240.00 / 1 Litre)

Available, delivery time: 3-4 weeks

Product number: 10289
Product information "Vieux Château Mazerat Emilion Grand Cru 2016"
VIEUX CHATEAU MAZERAT is our latest purchase, and one that we’re really proud to own. In 1996 we bought the vineyard that is LE DOME from VIEUX CHATEAU MAZERAT, so to have the chance to purchase the mother vineyard twelve years on was a great opportunity. It is for this reason that VIEUX CHATEAU MAZERAT’s label is the reverse of LE DOME’s – Ying and Yang.
Grapes
65% Merlot 35% Cabernet Franc; 4.15 ha, planted 1947-62
Viticulture
VIEUX CHATEAU MAZERAT is surrounded by CHATEAU CANON on three sides and by CHATEAU ANGELUS on the west. The Vineyard is stuck in the middle of ‘Cru Classé’ territory and faces CHATEAU BEAUSEJOUR DUFFAU LAGAROSSE. The vineyard is a mixture of 35% very old Cabernet Franc vines and 65% Merlot on clay over limestone. The vineyard yield is held down to 30 hectolitres per hectare, the vines are pruned on the double guyot system. The secondary shoots are removed and two runs of green harvesting completed in order to achieve no more than four bunches of grapes per vine, at mid-véraison. The grapes are handpicked into small trays before transfer to the winery.
Vinification
On arrival at the winery the grapes are sorted – firstly by bunch and then, after destemming, grape by grape. Only conveyors are used to transport the grapes and the wine is fermented in wooden vats after cold maceration. The wines undergo malolactic fermentation in new French oak, and are barrel-aged in an air-conditioned cellar at 18 °C.
Anything Unusual
David Peppercorn, in his eighties book BORDEAUX, stated that if the then proprietor was to buy some oak barrels there would be no reason why VIEUX CHATEAU MAZERAT shouldn’t be a CRU CLASSE like all of its neighbours. We bought the oak barrels.
Tasting Notes
"It has a rich, polished, darkly spiced nose, with twists of oak and cinnamon wrapped around the fruit, which is all grilled red cherry, the Cabernet Franc coming in here, with black bean and black olive, certainly capturing the spirit of the vintage. A fine, fresh, rich yet elegantly textured palate, redolent of plum cream, perfumed wild raspberries, with violets and rose petal notes to the fruit, as well as coffee bean, oaky spice and cinnamon, all underpinned by a rich but barely noticeable bed of tannin, along with a fresh and energetic acid lift. It is broad and bold, but with vivacity as well as breadth and substance. A truly impressive grand vin, beautiful, dark and brooding, loaded with texture, grip, energy and a polished substance. Magnificently spiced and energetic on the finish. A brilliant showing, on both of the occasions I tasted it. The élevage will be in 80% new oak." CHRIS KISSACK
Wine type: Red wine
Year: 2016