Anthologie de Marjosse, Cuvée Gros Bec - Malbec

• Vintage: 2019
  
• Origin: Bordeaux, France
  
• Taste guide: A deep, inky, purple-black colour with purplish highlights. The bouquet is powerful, complex with aromas of vanilla (from Oak Aging) and very ripe black fruits. The palate is full, rich, fleshy, with a finish of black fruit, forest floor (earthy) and liquorice notes. The body is meaty so sit back and take your time with this one! Allowing to breathe is advised.
• Food match: Duck, Beef & Kale.
• 75cl - 14.5% - Natural Cork Opening

Château Marjosee is a historical property located 14 km South of Saint Emilion, first built in 1782. It is surrounded by 40 acres of vineyards which sit on exceptional clay and limestone soils. Winemaker Pierre Lurton, born and raised in a neighbouring château, bought the property piece by piece, starting in 1991 and has been producing widely-acclaimed and sensibly-priced reds and whites since then. There are vines young and old, (even some planted in the 1920s!) of various grape kinds. Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon make up the red blend while the white mixes Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillion and a touch of the very aromatic Muscadelle. Owner and winemaker Pierre Lurton likes to refer to Château Marjosse as his secret garden, and for good reason. Together with technical director Jean-Marc Domme (who lives and did his training in nearby Pomerol), he applies his “Grand Cru” principles to this less-known corner of Bordeaux. The parcels, first planted in the 1880s and replaced with American rootstock after the phylloxera era, are tended year-round by Jean-Marc’s team – from ploughing to Guyot pruning to harvesting. The property’s 40 acres of vineyards are a mixed patchwork (all unique in their own way) containing young and old vines – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sémillion, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle…and even some rows of Malbec from the 1940s!

£25-£30 if you do manage to find this elsewhere in the UK, just £19.99 here at Bin Ends! Only 24 bottles sourced, Dec ‘23