2012 Château Marsau, Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux

2012 Château Marsau, Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux

Product: 20128010726
 
2012 Château Marsau, Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux

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Description

Aromas of red fruit and vanilla point to a luxurious 12-month stay in oak (30 percent of it new). The palate combines a fleshy red plum character with a cool, mineral core. This is approachable now, but has the concentration (yields at Marsau average of just 38 hl/ha) and structure to improve over the next decade. Drink now to 2027

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About this WINE

Chateau Marsau

Chateau Marsau

This excellent little property in the obscure Côtes de Francs is producing delicious wines.

Owned by the president of Bordeaux negociant, Dourthe, Jean-Marie Chadronnier, Chateau Marsau has been heralded by Robert Parker as "The Petrus of the Côtes de Francs".

Lying at the top of a hill, north-east of the village of Francs, the vineyards benefit from an excellent microclimate, with exceptional sunshine hours. The soils are predominantly clay which suits the Merlot grape variety, with which 85% of the vineyards are planted, very well.

The character of the wines is classic right-bank with soft, round, elegant fruit and fabulous balance.

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Cotes de Francs

Cotes de Francs

Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux, formerly known as the Côtes de Francs, is an appellation located on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. It is permitted to make red wines as well as dry and sweet white wines.

It forms part of the Côtes de Bordeaux network of appellations along with Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Sainte-Foy.

One of the leading producers in Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux is Château Marsau, the home estate of Anne-Laurence and Mathieu Chadronnier; Mathieu is the president of major négociant CVBG.

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Merlot

Merlot

The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.

In St.Emilion and Pomerol it withstands the moist clay rich soils far better than Cabernet grapes, and at it best produces opulently rich, plummy clarets with succulent fruitcake-like nuances. Le Pin, Pétrus and Clinet are examples of hedonistically rich Merlot wines at their very best. It also plays a key supporting role in filling out the middle palate of the Cabernet-dominated wines of the Médoc and Graves.

Merlot is now grown in virtually all wine growing countries and is particularly successful in California, Chile and Northern Italy.

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