Why it matters
The producer
Jean-Hubert Delon inherited Château Potensac from his paternal grandmother, Georgette Liquard. The estate covers 60 hectares of vineyard and produces close to 24,000 cases annually. Its wines age in French oak for 14 to 16 months, depending on vintage character. Potensac is usually better after five to seven years in bottle and reaches peak maturity between seven and twenty years after the vintage.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Potensac sits on a high point of land in North Médoc, in the Ordonnac district, where the estate occupies the best quality soils. Elevated ground generally drains more freely than lower land, helping vines avoid excess water after rain. Médoc identifies the red wine appellation, while Ordonnac places the estate within the North Médoc.
Wines to know
The range in view
Château Potensac 2022 is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36.5% Merlot, 19.5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, aged in 20% new oak. The wine has powdered chalk, dried berries, pressed wildflowers and mint on the nose. The other named bottles are Château Potensac 2018 and Chapelle de Potensac 2020, giving the range two vintages of Château Potensac and a second Médoc label.