CHÂTEAU LA MAURIANE
2017 Puisseguin Saint Emilion
This Saint Emilion from the satellite village of Puisseguin is one of our favourite properties on the right bank. It's hard to find another which offers such consistency of quality and value. The 2017 has a lovely rich, plum and violet scented nose. There is plenty of muscle and shape on the palate but everything is kept fresh and well-defined by the wine's signature mineral core - the product of old vines, limestone terroir, plenty of Cabernet Franc and the quiet genius of owner and winemaker Pierre Taïx. Rating: 89-90 L&S (Apr 2018)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
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)
The 2017 La Mauriane is deep garnet-purple in color with a nose of baked blackberries and cassis with wafts of tapenade and black truffles. The palate is medium-bodied with a chewy frame and just enough freshness, finishing on an earthy note. Drinking range: 2018 - Rating: 87-89 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Apr 2018)
Made from mostly Merlot, with a smaller amount of Cabernet Franc, the 2017 La Mauriane is brought up in 70% new barrels, with the balance in demi-muids. This inky-colored effort offers an exotic bouquet of black and blue fruits, violets, and spice. It's elegant, medium to full-bodied, has beautiful fruit, and fine tannin, all making for a beautifully balanced, delicious Merlot that will keep for 8-10 years. Rating: 90-93 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Apr 2018)
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.