Château Mayne Lalande Listrac-Médoc 2019

Listrac-Médoc lies inland on the higher ground of the Médoc, where deeper clay-limestone soils sit alongside the gravel mounds, giving the appellation reds a firmer, more savoury cast than the riverside communes. Château Mayne Lalande draws on a single plot of around 15 hectares of siliceous gravel and calcareous clay, where vines averaging 35 years old balance vigour and concentration. The gravel warms quickly and drains freely, helping Cabernet Sauvignon ripen, while the clay holds water for Merlot through the dry late summer. After a maceration of around 25 days to extract colour, tannin and aromatic depth, the wine ages 12 months in French oak, where measured oxygen exchange softens the Cabernet structure and adds cedar and tobacco to the fruit. Petit Verdot lends colour and spice, Cabernet Franc fragrance. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows red currant, plum and black cherry over cedar, tobacco, dried herbs and a graphite edge. The palate is medium to full, with firm fine-grained tannin, fresh acidity and a long earthy finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting ahead, with roast lamb or beef.