PRATS + SYMINGTON, POST SCRIPTUM DE CHRYSEIA

DOURO, PORTUGAL 2016

Frequently stealing ground from the First Growths, Cos d’Estournel is a landmark. The product of a daring vision that signifies the best that can be found in Bordeaux, this Saint-Estephe estate established itself as one of the pre-eminent producers in Bordeaux under the tutelage of Bruno Prats. His grandfather, Fernand Ginestet, started his career as a wine merchant, and cemented his family’s place in history when he purchased Cos d’Estournel. He would later go on to purchase First Growth Chateau Margaux. Inspired by the family trade, Bruno Prats went on to study viticulture in Montpellier and upon graduating, worked alongside his grandfather at Chateau Margaux and soon after acquired Cos d’Estournel from Ginestet. For almost 30 years, he ran the family-owned Cos d’Estournel until he departed in 1998 to pursue a new venture in an emerging region, the Duoro Valley. 

In 1999, Bruno partnered up with port powerhouse family Symington (of Graham’s port fame) to produce a red wine akin to the quality of top Bordeaux. At the time, few people in the region believed that the Douro could produce a world-class, age-worthy red, akin to the great Port wines of the region. The top grapes were always destined to the production of fortified wines. With the purchase Quinta de Roriz and Quinta da Perdiz on the left bank of the Douro River, the extremely steep, terraced slopes that lie at 1,458 feet in elevation produce some of the best dry reds to come out of the Douro Valley. Emphasizing the art of blending just as in Bordeaux, the blend of their wines vary based on the vintage. 

Fast forward to today and it seems that Bruno’s vision has led him to the upper echelon of wine production yet again as his 2011 Chryseia was named #3 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 in 2014. As managing editor Kim Marcus notes, his wine “successfully modulates the power of the Douro’s fruit with a Bordelaise finesse.” Bringing his Bordeaux expertise to the table, Bruno likens the harmony of the local Douro varietals Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca to that of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In true Bordeaux fashion, Bruno produces a Grand Vin, Chryseia, and a second wine: Post Scriptum de Chryseia. Just as any of the great Bordeaux estate’s top wines, they may be well worth the price, but affording them on a daily basis is not a reality for most. Enter in Post Scriptum. The fruit for Post Scriptum is sourced from a second selection of fruit from the same lots used for Chryseia. Using the same production methods, all grapes are hand harvested, hand sorted and gently crushed in traditional lagares prior to fermentation. Some may not be able to tell the difference between the two, however, where Chryseia can age for another two decades, Post Scriptum is delicious and approachable now. With its rich notes of plum, blackberry and tobacco, the 2016 Post Scriptum is expressive and unbelievably delicious. Comparable to some of the best of Bordeaux for sub-$25 price point, this is an offer you don’t want to miss!