CHÂTEAU PAUILLAC, PAUILLAC
BORDEAUX, FRANCE 2018
We love reading tasting notes as much as you do. But whether a wine is redolent of cherries and lilac, or whether its tannins are fine-grained or grippy — that's all secondary when we're doing our first reads of the critics. What are we looking for?
Well, this, from reviews of the 2018 Château Pauillac:
"This is stunning stuff."
That expression of pure, visceral excitement – from no less an authority than Jeb Dunnuck, and in a 95-point review — was all we needed to pursue a bottle with ardor. Our subsequent tastings only confirmed the critic's enthusiasm. This is a special wine: layered with dark fruit, fantastically intense, and with extra-supple tannins that, despite the fleshiness and size on offer, keep the drinking smooth and easy. As always, there is the classic Pauillac character we love.
Given the consistently high output of this estate in recent years, its quality shouldn’t come as any surprise.
You can credit its consulting oenologist, the jet-setting superstar Michel Rolland, but it's not as if the terroir isn't already superlative to begin with.
The estate’s 20 hectares have been divided into three distinct parcels on the Left Bank — the largest of which occupies 13 hectares that border Château Mouton Rothschild vineyard. Nearby is a veritable who's who of Bordeaux heavyweights: Château Latour, Château Lynch-Bages, Châteaux Pichon Longueville Baron and Comtesse. This is one of the most renowned patches of land in all of the wine world. Growing conditions could hardly be more propitious for the production of powerful, elegant wine, from the rich, complex soils to the high altitude to the nearby Gironde River (which engulfs the area in its microclimate).
The Peyronie family can trace its roots to this land to more than 300 years ago. The current steward is Pascale Peyronie, a jurist by training and fourth-generation winemaker, who has taken over the estate after two decades spent learning from her father. Keeping yields low is a major directive, and the Fondabet vineyard is one of the lowest-yield vineyards in the Pauillac appellation. Only ploughs are used, and, in another homage to the methods of the past, vignerons employ "earthing up" techniques, piling soil around the base of the grapevine to enhance development.
If you're a lover of soulfully-made Bordeaux that will keep for decades, this is one you don't want to miss.
Our allocation is not large, however, so act now to secure yours!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2022. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in MI, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
