NEW PERSONALITIES IN THE VINEYARDS OF THE MEDOC

We have chosen the spring to launch our new range of labels that will be on our second-label wines from now on.

Le Page (the medieval Page) de La Tour de Bessan (the second-label wine from Château La Tour de Bessan in Margaux) is the only one of the three wines to keep its current name. The new label shows a young boy and his lute - the little pageboy who served the nobility during the Middle Ages.

For Château de Villegeorge, whose finesse and elegance are its principal characteristics, we deemed it necessary to have a feminine personality. Our designer, Frédéric Durand, came up with a Prima Ballerina – l’Etoile – the Star of the ballet. And so it is a charming, beautiful classical dancer who is in the centre of our second-label wine.

As for Château Duplessis, whose history is marked by the presence of the du Plessis family (who is linked to the Cardinal Richelieu), its new second-label has been Christened ‘Cardinal’. A serious, responsible man with elegant posture, dressed in a red cape now adorns the label.

We took advantage of the Spring Open House days for the Châteaux in the Medoc to launch these three new characters to our clients.

Le Page, revamped, was launched with the 2007 vintage. With its 28% Cabernet Sauvignon and 72% Merlot, it is a very smooth, full wine; its aromas of ripe red berries have been preserved by ageing the wine in tanks for a year.

This wine will go well with white meats, savoury tarts and pressed cheeses like Emmental, Comté, Parmesan or Chedddar, for example.

L’Etoile made its first appearance with the 2009 vintage and as expected, this wine flew off the shelves into our clients’ hands over the first weekend of April. A nose of violets and wild strawberries invites you initially; on the palate it is smooth with fleshy tannins that evolve beautifully. The finish is extremely long for this range of wine with lovely freshness, offering aromas of red berries. It is hard to imagine that the wine is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon (with 10% Merlot for the blend) as it is so accessible and drinkable already. This is proof that 2009 is an exceptional vintage.

It’s a wine that accompanies poultry, red berries or dark chocolate for example.

Le Cardinal 2008 has a hint of austerity that is typical of its clayey-calcareous terroir and the vintage. It is a blend of the four grape varietals of this domain: 77% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine benefits well from airing it, so do decant before drinking. The complex nose expresses aromas of peonies, blackcurrants, raspberries, pepper and the palate becomes softer and smoother after a little breathing. The tannins are present but not aggressive and the freshness on the finish makes it a perfect companion for an array of dishes, including spicy, powerful dishes such as curries or North African tajines.

Three wines, three styles, three vintages – all at very reasonable prices:From 7,80 Euros per bottle (for the Etoile 2009 – AOC Haut Médoc) to 9,50 Euros for Le Page 2007 (AOC Margaux) and 8,10 Euros for the Cardinal 2008 (AOC Moulis en Médoc). These tariffs are ex-cellar in cases of 6 bottles of 750ml.