THE VINTAGE
Marking the personality and specificities of each vintage, the M printed on the label of this gourmet and fleshy Bordeaux Supérieur wine changes color every year. Made solely from Merlot, the emblematic grape variety of the right bank of the Garonne, this cuvée from Château Croix Mouton, which dominates the Dordogne, has a deep ruby color with beautiful shiny reflections. Small, tart red fruits follow one another on the palate (red plum, cherry in particular). The palate is ample and juicy, full of charming finesse.
This wine is best appreciated when young, when its fruity bouquet shows all its liveliness.
Located in the town of Lugon, which is on the right bank of Bordeaux, Château Croix Mouton spreads its vines over nearly 70 hectares. Owned by the Janoueix family, it thrives on the clay-loam soil of the Carney Island. In 2019, the grape varieties in 2019 give pride of place to Merlot (96%), itself supplemented by Cabernet Franc (2.5%), Malbec (1%) and Petit Verdot (0.5%) . The vines are on average 38 years old. Planting density is around 3,600 to 6,000 vines per hectare.
The work in the vineyard is meticulous with tillage, grassing, thinning and some leaf thinning. After sorting at the harvest, vinification takes place in concrete and stainless steel vats with openings and regular punching down. Fermentation is carried out under temperature control (26-27°C maximum). The vatting period is between three weeks and one month. Aging lasts between three and four months on fine lees in barrels (20%) and in vats with or without wood (80%).
The superior Bordeaux produced by the estate are pleasant wines, on the fruit, to drink rather in their youth. Gourmet and fleshy, these are, moreover, wines that are quite easy to access.
