Country: France  Region: Bordeaux  Vintage: 2017 Category: Red Wine  Color:  Red Producer: Château Petit-Village "Château Petit-Village is situated in the heart of the Pomerol appellation, next door to Vieux Château Certan, and has benefited from renovation and improvement over the last two decades. Lower yields in the vineyards, a new barrel cellar and fermentation vats have all been implemented by Daniel Llose and consultants Stéphane Derenoncourt and Marielle Cazeaux, who oversee the work in the vineyard and winery between them. The 11 hectares of vines sit at the highest point of Pomerol, on very deep gravel soils. These typically have better drainage than clay-based soils and are therefore warmer than much of Pomerol, which helps vine balance even in the wetter, cooler years. The 2007 Château Petit-Village Pomerol is a blend of 78% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc. The wine is aged in barrels, of which 60% are new and 40% are one year old for between 14 and 16 months. 'Le Jardin de Petit-Village' is the second wine of Château Petit-Village and is sourced from a selection of younger Merlot vines and parcels that deliver softer, slightly less concentrated wines. It is made by the same winemaking team, with the same scrupulous care, as Château Petit-Village itself. It is 100% Merlot and aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new and 75% are one year old." Winemaker: Daniel Llose, Serge Ley Vineyards: The vineyard sits at the highest point of Pomerol, where soils are the most gravelly and thus drainage is optimised, which is an advantage in the maritime climate. The subsoil is known as 'crasse de fer', an iron-rich clay that is said to confer such complexity to the greatest wines of Pomerol. Vineyards are planted with 75% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Vines are between 15 and 20 years of age and grapes were hand-picked before being sorted several times to ensure only perfectly ripe berries entered the winery. Le Jardin de Petit Village is made from 100% Merlot and is intended for earlier drinking. Vinification: The wine was fermented in temperature controlled, epoxy lined concrete vats for 10 days. Ageing was in one year old French oak barrels for 15 months (25% new, 75% one year old). The wine was exclusively made from Merlot, which has given a rich, fruit-driven, smooth textured wine for mid-term ageing. The wine was made by Serge Ley and Daniel Llose, who is also responsible for the highly respected Pauillac Grand Cru, Château Pichon-Baron, alongside Stéphane Derenoncourt who consults for the Château. Tasting Notes: Powerful and yet elegant wine with substance, a certain tension and great finesse. The colour is almost black; the bouquet boasts crisp, refined fruit, followed by immense length and that freshness that is so characteristic of the site of Château Petit Village. Food Suggestion: Good with softer-textured meats like poultry and pork and cow's milk cheeses like cheddar. Closure: Natural Cork  ABV: 14%  Classification: AOC