Chateau La Garde Rouge 2015.

Château La Garde charmed Dourthe with the exceptional quality of the terroir, and undoubtedly one of the finest gravel outcrops in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Château La Garde is a powerful, well-structured wine offering rich, well-balanced character. A selective approach in the vineyard and winery alike brings laser-precision and elegance to rival the finest wines.

TASTING NOTES: Deeply intense, almost black and purple-tinged appearance, offering a complex, intense nose exuding roasted, smoky notes. Supple on the attack, the wine rapidly develops generous mouthful defined by lovely, expressive fruit, concentration and depth, underscored by delicate tannic structure; very smooth, despite the intensity. The appealing harmony is echoed in the long, flavoursome finish.

THE VINTAGE: The year began with excellent climatic conditions – light, heat and dry weather. The very even flowering began a week earlier than the average start date recorded at La Garde. The Merlots planted on clay did not struggle with a spate of hot, dry weather of June and July. For the gravel soils, more sensitive to drought, we tilled the soil lightly to break up the cracks and channels where water was evaporating in order to preserve the moisture in the subsoil and to remove any competition with the cover plants. The vineyard was in excellent health and the rainy periods not excessively heavy, at the end of July and beginning of August, kick-started veraison which had been slowed by the high temperatures of previous weeks. With the chilly nights and warm days, conditions in August were ideal for the development of fine tannins and anthocyans in the red grape varieties. Harvesting stretched calmly over 3 weeks giving high quality Merlots cultivated onclay and stunning Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot on deep gravel.