Why it matters
The producer
Jean-Michel Wilmotte designed the new gravity fed winery at Château Pedesclaux to help preserve grape aromas. The estate is a Fifth Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux classification, located in Pauillac on Bordeaux's Left Bank in the Médoc. Pierre Urbain Pédesclaux founded it in 1810 after purchasing vineyard land from Grand Puy. Jacky Lorenzetti bought the property in 2009, and Emmanuelle Cruse is the director. The estate is fully committed to organic agriculture.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Deep gravel drains quickly and warms in the sun, while clay holds more moisture. At Château Pedesclaux, those materials sit together, with limestone in certain places, and can help Cabernet Sauvignon ripen fully while retaining its place as the leading grape. Pauillac belongs to the Médoc on Bordeaux's Left Bank.
Wines to know
The range in view
Château Pedesclaux is the estate's named red wine. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the vineyard planting, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot completing the four grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon brings dark fruit and firm tannin, Merlot gives a rounder fruit profile, and Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot can add spice and further tannin. The bottle presents a Bordeaux red through the estate's own grape proportions.
Choose Château Pedesclaux 2018. Dense dark berries rise from the glass, with blueberries, anise, spice and dark fruit behind them. Luscious fruit fills the palate, followed by fresh acidity and fine tannin. The finish is long and persistent.