Château La Haye, Saint-Estèphe 2021
DESCRIPTION
In the heart of the Saint-Estèphe appellation, the northernmost of the great communal appellations of the Médoc, Château La Haye extends over soils of deep gravel and clayey gravel. It is one of the iconic terroirs of the Bordeaux Left Bank. The gravel ensures excellent drainage and forces the vine to draw from deep down, while the clay provides freshness and water reserves in dry years. This balance produces structured wines with a distinct character.
Certified High Environmental Value (HVE), the estate takes care of vines that are already quite old. Deeply rooted, they yield more concentrated grapes that faithfully reflect their terroir. The harvest is done entirely by hand, in order to pick each bunch with delicacy and preserve the integrity of the berries until they reach the winery.
There, the work is meticulous. A cold maceration before fermentation allows for the gentle extraction of aromas and color. This is followed by a gentle vinification in stainless steel tanks, which respects the fruit. The wine continues its journey with a long aging process in barrels, some of which are new, which brings complexity, finesse, and aging potential. It is finally bottled at the property. Throughout the process, the estate is accompanied by oenologists Éric Boissenot and Marc Quertinier, well-known names in the Médoc.
This 2021 vintage combines a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, some Merlot, and a touch of Petit Verdot, the classic blend of the great wines of the Médoc. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides the backbone and structure, the Merlot the roundness and fruit, and the Petit Verdot a note of color and spice that completes the whole.
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This 2021 Saint-Estèphe smells wonderfully of black fruit and blackberry, with a touch of tobacco. On the palate, it is juicy and elegant, with refined tannins: a real treat!