On the right bank of Bordeaux, a stone's throw from Saint-Émilion, lies the Saint-Georges appellation, one of its most exclusive satellites. It is here that Château Cap d’Or cultivates its 19 hectares of vines, on beautiful clay-limestone soil that is mostly south-facing. A sunny and generous terroir, which gives the grapes excellent maturity while maintaining the freshness provided by the limestone.

Here, Merlot is king: it accounts for 84% of the vineyard. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon provide structure and complexity. The vines are 34 years old on average, a good age where they root deeply and produce more concentrated grapes that fully express their terroir.

What captivated us about Château Cap d’Or is the care taken at every stage. In the vineyard, nothing is left to chance. The soils are plowed. Two green harvests help limit yields and concentrate the grapes. Leaf thinning on the side of the rising sun aerates the bunches and offers them the gentle morning light without scorching them. At harvest time, each grape variety is picked at its peak maturity: late September for the Merlot, early October for the Cabernets. The grapes are then sorted twice, first in the vineyard and then in the cellar, to keep only the best.

In the glass, it is a generous and round wine, carried by the indulgence of the Merlot. One finds aromas of ripe black and red fruits that make you want to come back for more. The tannins are supple and enveloping, and the finish remains fresh thanks to the limestone soil. It is a wine that delights without being heavy.