Critics reviews
Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com, May 2010
About this WINE
Ch. Haut-Nouchet
The château was devastated by the two World Wars, and it was not until 1970 that Lucien Lurton acquired and renewed the buildings and the vineyard. In 1992, Lucien’s son inherited the land, and in the same year transformed the entire vineyard to organic growing.
In 2008, the Briest family purchased Haut-Nouchet. Today, the vineyard is thirty eight hectares large, with eleven hectares dedicated to white grapes.
A protected arboretum, which was planted sometime during the 19th century, still stands at the chateau and is composed of a multitude of vegetal varieties. This provides an ongoing ecological paradise, home to many types of wildlife, insects and birds, which all work in harmony together to preserve the estate’s ecosystem.
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
A family owned vineyard in the heart of Martillac, surrounded by some of the best Chateaux in the Graves. The family are totally committed to using organic methods as far as possible, and have enlisted the guidance of Stephane Derenoncourt, one of the finest oenologists in Bordeaux, to make the most of their superb vineyards. To some extent, these wines are left to their own devices, and they have a slightly “wild” feel - which means that in a warm vintage like 2009, they show quite extravagant fruit quality. Intense and absolutely loaded with ripe currant fruit, with amazingly soft, rounded tannins. Velvety finish.
Philip Moulin, Fine Wine Buyer
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