Château de Barbe - Cotes de Bourg - A.O.C.

It’s back…. A mature Claret made primarily from Merlot with touches of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Rich, powerful and fruit-filled. A chance to buy an aged Claret at a bargain price.

• Vintage: 2015
  
• Origin: Château de Barbe, Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux
  
• Taste guide: Full bodied, black fruits on the palate, plum, damson, blackberry, blackcurrant, spicy notes, softened tannins, oaked.
  
• 75cl - 14% - Traditional cork closure
  
• Produced and bottled at the Château
  

The Château de Barbe was owned by the Marquis de Barbe until 1774, with vineyards existing since the 14th century. The Richard family have owned the Château for three generations and continue the tradition of making superb wines. The Côtes de Bourg appellation is on the south facing bank of the Gironde with the 41 hectare vineyards of Château de Barbe enjoying incomparable conditions.

Merlot is the predominant grape here and this Claret is a blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet and 10% Malbec, known in Bordeaux as Cot. The average age of these vines is 30 years and yields are limited to ensure the very best fruit.

In the winery, vinification was supervised by Eric Boissenot (consulting oenologist for top chateaux in the Médoc) who helps the Richard family to go even further in the selection process and in the pursuit of quality. Each varietal was harvested separately, and in the winery underwent de-stemming, then cold maceration for 3-4 days, followed by controlled temperature slow fermentation. The wines then went through secondary malolactic fermentation in barrels. The various cuvées were then carefully blended and aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.

Presenting very deep colouring along with a bouquet full of aromas of juicy black fruits such as blueberry and blackberry, this Château de Barbe is now showing the quality promise of the sun-soaked 2015 vintage. The palate is rich, powerful, and fruit-filled, exhibiting enticing flavours of plum, damson, red and black berry and currant, with notes of chocolate, spice and pepper. The tannins are perfectly integrated, and the finish is long and satisfying.

On release the winery stated, "This is already a good wine for drinking now but with further maturing it will more fully reveal its great potential." Now at its optimum for drinking.

The ideal wines for all red meats and will even complement poultry.

This is primarily a restaurant wine where it was selling for over £30 and has been noted in retail at £15 to as much as £22 p/btl

Sold off by the importer due to high stocks, you can now get this superb Claret at Binendwines for just £9.99 p/btl.

View the Château website https://www.chateaudebarbe.fr/en/