Château Potensac 2023

Château Potensac lies on a high point in the north of the Médoc, close to the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic, a maritime setting that moderates temperature and lengthens ripening. The wine is a Bordeaux blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, planted on the gravel and clay ridges that define the Médoc. Gravel drains well and holds warmth to help Cabernet ripen, while bands of clay retain moisture and feed the Merlot, giving the blend both structure and flesh. The wine ages fourteen months in French oak, where slow oxygen exchange through the staves firms and integrates the tannins and adds cedar and clove, while malolactic fermentation softens the acidity of the fruit. It shows deep ruby, with aromas of dark fruit and ripe cherry interwoven with a note of clay soil and cigar tobacco. The palate is structured and savoury, with firm, fine-grained tannins and an earthy, cedary finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour before pouring. A classic match for lamb, beef and game.