Closerie Saint Roc 2019

A modern Bordeaux in the best sense: it relies not on extraction and excessive concentration but on the purity of its fruit. Deep garnet red in the glass, in the mouth a wine with such drive that the bottle empties quickly.

The walled estate is located in Puisseguin, twelve kilometres from Saint-Émilion, at an altitude of 80 to 106 metres. The 16 hectares of vines are rooted in clay, silt and sand over fossil-rich asteriated limestone. Pascal Amoreau, whose family has run Château Le Puy since 1610, revived the medieval estate in 2013.

70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines averaging 35 years old. The vineyard is farmed biodynamically, with agroforestry and permaculture; horses plough between the rows, and 200 blackcurrant bushes support biodiversity. After hand harvesting, the wine ferments spontaneously, ages for 24 months in used oak barrels and is dynamised according to the lunar calendar. Bottled with no added sulphur, unfined and unfiltered.

Round and juicy, with ripe dark fruit: sweet cherry, blueberry and blackberry, alongside cassis liqueur, stone and a hint of mocha. The tannin is powdery, the acidity ripe, and a cool, mineral thread runs through the wine like a sinew, giving it structure. 13.0% vol., dry.

With braised beef cheeks, pink-roasted saddle of lamb, pan-seared duck breast or fine mushroom dishes.

At Closerie Saint Roc, each parcel is vinified separately and bottled as a single-vineyard wine. This wine is made entirely without added sulphur and remains unfined and unfiltered.