Château Tour Maillet 2023

Château Tour Maillet works on the right bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux, in an area long associated with the Pomerol appellation and its history as a refuge on the pilgrim route to Santiago. The wine is built on Merlot, the grape that thrives on the cooler, clay rich soils of the right bank, where the moisture retaining clay slows ripening and gives the variety its plush texture and depth. The fruit is fermented and then aged for twelve months in oak barrel, a period that rounds the tannin through slow oxygen exchange and adds a layer of cedar, vanilla and spice without masking the fruit. The wine is deep ruby, with a nose of ripe cherry, blackberry and plum interwoven with tobacco, dark chocolate and a savoury earthiness. The palate is medium to full bodied, with soft, rounded tannin, balanced acidity and a long finish that leans on the clay grown Merlot's natural generosity. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting half an hour ahead. It suits roast beef, duck and earthy mushroom dishes.