2011 Château Puygueraud, Bordeaux Côtes de Francs
Critics reviews
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 26/04/2012
About this WINE
Ch. Puygueraud
In 1979, he started to replant the vineyards, and in 1983 he was joined by his son Nicolas Thienpont to help produce the first vintage.
The vineyard comprises 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec grapes. The soil consists of clay and limestone, with chalky subsoil. Vines are planted with a vine density of 4,500 vines per hectare.
In 2013, Château Puygueraud launched Puygueraud Blanc, a Bordeaux AOC white wine. The white grapes are composed of 55% Sauvignon Gris and 45% Sauvignon Blanc, representing the highest percentage of Sauvignon Gris used in Bordeaux. Château Puygueraud also produces Cuvée George, as a tribute to George Thienpont, which is a blend of Malbec and Cabernet.
Nowadays, Nicolas manages not only Château Puygueraud, but also several well-known St Emilion estates such as Berliquet and Larcis Ducasse.
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself particularly well in blends with Merlot. This is actually the archetypal Bordeaux blend, though in different proportions in the sub-regions and sometimes topped up with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
In the Médoc and Graves the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can range from 95% (Mouton-Rothschild) to as low as 40%. It is particularly suited to the dry, warm, free- draining, gravel-rich soils and is responsible for the redolent cassis characteristics as well as the depth of colour, tannic structure and pronounced acidity of Médoc wines. However 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be slightly hollow-tasting in the middle palate and Merlot with its generous, fleshy fruit flavours acts as a perfect foil by filling in this cavity.
In St-Emilion and Pomerol, the blends are Merlot dominated as Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen there - when it is included, it adds structure and body to the wine. Sassicaia is the most famous Bordeaux blend in Italy and has spawned many imitations, whereby the blend is now firmly established in the New World and particularly in California and Australia.
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Description
Another strong effort from Puygueraud (the birthplace of the Thienpont family), the 2011 was fashioned from modest yields of 35 hectoliters per hectare, and the final blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec came in at 14.5% natural alcohol. The wines dense blue/purple color is accompanied by copious aromas of blueberries, blackberries, charcoal and graphite. Clearly performing well above its modest pedigree, this sleeper of the vintage possesses medium to full body, beautifully pure fruit, and a decades worth of drinkability.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 26/04/2012
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