Château Haut-Grelot

The single vineyard 'Pin Franc' Malbec is a particularly exciting cuvée. Something they love to hammer into you in the French Wine Scholar program is that before the frost of 1956, there was a lotttttt of Malbec growing in Bordeaux. Especially in the Bourg and the Blaye! But that 1956 frost killed so many Malbec vines in particular while Merlot seemed to escape with the least injury. And so Merlot was planted in Malbec's place. But today there is a resurgence in Malbec planting on the right bank with vignerons feeling excited about its ripening curve in this time of warmer temperatures, planting it back in the parcels where it once flourished.

This 100% Malbec is a sign of the time. This is a very serious wine from a single vineyard on the Hill of the Agrière in a plot called Pin Franc. It is fermented in concrete, macerated with punch downs by hand, and spends well over a year in the same or in oak barrels slowly maturing, taking in air, softening. Friends, this is a very delicious wine. The aroma is classically Malbec with chocolate and dark plum and blackberry (I almost always find that fresh blackberry note in the Blaye) but none of that coffee thing you get in Malbec sometimes. The palate is super well integrated at this age, giving tobacco and plum skin and even some ripe apple like freshness. All this from twelve year old vines? The future is bright for this wine.