CHÂTEAU LA MAURIANE

2016 Puisseguin Saint Emilion

IN STOCK
Grapes Merlot, Cab Franc
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
District Right Bank
Sub-district Saint Emilion & Satellites
Village Puisseguin Saint Emilion
ABV 14%

We visited the La Mauriane cellar with Pierre Taix, and tasted the 2016 in its three component cuvées as well as an approximation of the final blend. The Merlot from the chalky hillside had fantastically delicious precision, juicy, fat and supple, but above all expressive. The Merlot from the limestone plateau was grippier and more intense. The third cuvée, also from the plateau, comes from old vines - some up to 80 years old - and it has a bit of everything in it, including a vividly expressed florality and precise purple berry fruit. The final blend, with 72% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, is gloriously fresh and focused - and Pierre remarks that he likes it when it still have a touch of the 'sauvage', the violet aromas from the Cabernet Franc. A brilliant value bottle for 4 to 15 years time. Drinking range: 2021 - 2030 Rating: 90-91 L&S (Apr 2017)

*Case price discount: Mix any 12 bottles of wine (or 9 litre equivalent) or 6 bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Sweet Wine or Fortified (4.5 litres) to get the discounted 'case price' for each bottle.

The 2017 La Mauriane has quite an intense bouquet with small black cherries and Indian ink scents. It is almost like a kid brother of Château Pavie! The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, a brisk line of acidity and dovetailing into a more classically styled, mineral-driven finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. This is perhaps the best Puisseguin Saint-Émilion that I encountered during my travels. Drinking range: 2021 - 2029 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2018)

Made by Pierre Taix. Very dark. Racy and transparent. The ripeness of a fine St-Émilion with some lift and transparency. Could be VGV. Drinking range: 2024 - 2032 Rating: 16.5+ Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2017)

Tangy and fruity with firm tannins and a savory finish. Plenty of fruit and a juicy finish. Rating: 90-91 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2017)

La Mauriane

La Mauriane is a small vineyard within Château Rigaud, a Puisseguin-St-Emilion property owned by Pierre Taïx, who owns a few other properties in Puisseguin and the neighbouring Côtes de Castillon. La Mauriane is a micro-cuvée, made by Pierre, who is a university lecturer (economics) in his other life. One of the three parcels that make this extraordinary wine consists of eighty year old vines planted by his grandfather. The vineyard here is farmed organically. 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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