Château Quinault l’Enclos 2021

Chateau Quinault l'Enclos is a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru based in the town of Libourne on Bordeaux's Right Bank. Replanted in the late 1990s under Alain Raynaud and later taken on by the owners of Chateau Cheval Blanc, the estate is farmed organically and picked entirely by hand. The blend is led by Merlot with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Right Bank soils of clay, sand and gravel suit Merlot in particular, giving rounded, plush fruit, while the cooler nights preserve freshness. The wine spends around twelve months in French oak, some of it in larger five hundred litre barrels, which softens tannin through slow oxygen exchange and adds spice without heavy toast. Malolactic fermentation converts sharp malic acid into softer lactic acid, rounding the mid palate. Colour is deep ruby. The nose shows ripe plum, black cherry, cocoa and cedar with a leafy Cabernet Franc lift. The palate is supple and medium to full bodied, with fine grained tannin, good acidity and an earthy, savoury finish. Decant an hour before serving at around seventeen degrees. It suits roast beef, lamb and game.