2009 Château Cambon la Pelouse
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Tasting notes
58% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot. Ch Cambon La Pelouse is one of the oldest estates in the region according to the Feret guide. The terroir is close to the Margaux appellation, neighbouring Ch Giscours and Ch Cantemerle. 60 ha of vines are planted on soils of fine gravel and larger gravel from the Quaternary era which allow for effective drainage. The soils are worked traditionally to avoid compacting and to develop microbial life. The grapes are transferred into vats on a plot-by-plot basis once they have been meticulously selected and destemmed. Temperature control optimises the vinification and a cold pre-fermentation maceration period takes place for one week to extract colour and polyphenols. The wine is aged for 12 months in oak. Residual sugar: <2 g/l. Winemaker: Monsieur Marie. Look at that alcohol! Dark crimson. Thick and sweet and relatively simple without quite the grunt of the Ch Barreyres. More reserved and a bit duller. (JR)
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Another of my favorite estates from the southern part of the Medoc, Macau, this Haut-Medoc cru bourgeois is a blend of 54% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. The alcohol was 14% and the wine bottled unfined and unfiltered by its consulting oenologist, the brilliant Claude Gros. Wonderfully dark ruby/purple in color, with loads of sweet berry fruit as well as hints of licorice and charcoal, the wine displays a lush texture, medium to full body, and the vintage’s tell-tale ripeness, high glycerin and silky texture. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. (A member of the Association of Crus Bourgeois du Medoc.)
58% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot. Lightly and attractively toasty aroma with a rich core of black fruit underneath. The Cabernet Franc makes it presence felt on the palate rather than on the nose – fine tension and length. Well-judged structuring of the vintage's generous fruit. Very good. (JH)
Very dark. Simple, sweet, lift. Round and polished and easy but a bit unambitious. GV for early/mid drinking? (JR)