Montagne-St-Emilion

Ch. Teyssier is located in the tiny wine appellation of Montagne-St Emilion. The vineyard dates back to the 15th century and surrounds a charming 18th century château. The vineyard covers 21 hectares on a clay/limestone hillside to the north-east of St Emilion, and in the early 1990s received considerable investment, with much work done the vineyard and the cellar. As a result, the quality of wines improved exponentially.

Wines at this “petit château” level from the outstanding 2010 vintage are now at their prime. Here there are lovely evolved notes of plum and cedar, and a generous, neatly structured palate is driven by the equilibrium and exceptional conditions of the year.

An over-achieving estate for a number of years now, this dense purple wine exhibits oodles of creme de cassis and licorice, hints of subtle barbecue smoke and toast, terrific texture and a long, succulent, fleshy finish. It is not all that dissimilar from the 2009 in terms of its flamboyance and drinkability, although I suspect that analytically the pH is slightly lower and the tannins a bit higher than those of its older sibling. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.
Robert M. Parker, Jr. - The Wine Advocate# 205 - Feb 2013

Deeply coloured with ample, ripe berry fruits on the nose. The palate is rounded, and supple, with no hint of rustic winemaking. A laid-back style of wine which is both pleasingly fruity but intriguingly savoury. Drink now to 2017. Perfect with a warming casserole or a large hunk of mature cheddar .    

The wine (a blend of 86% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc) really punches above its weight, a satellite appellation of St Emilion but in this case which tastes like a St Emilion. The Teyssier estate can trace its history back to the 15th century and the vineyard is now formed of a single holding which surrounds a charming 18th century Chartreuse.

Montagne’ is one of the satellite regions of St. Emilion, sharing the same rolling hills and clay dominated soils as its more expensive neighbour. There is often a slightly clunky style to these wines but here, esteemed oenologist Michel Rolland has worked his magic, and the result is well balanced and very stylish.