Château Le Boscq 2009 Saint Estèphe Cru Bourgeois

Located on a magnificent terroir, right next to the Gironde estuary and overlooked by a majestic residence, with its rich and ancient history, the Château Le Boscq vineyards today produce highly distinctive wines, which elegantly combine the powerful character of Saint-Estephe with extraordinary finesse. Château Le Boscq harmoniously allies the power of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot with the delicacy of Merlot.Refined and well-balanced, the wine shows great potential and will improve with ageing.

Grape

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot

Vineyard & Vinification Note

HVE3 and Terra Vitis certified (High environmental value certificates)

As in every Dourthe vineyard, the team constantly strives to improve viticultural practice to produce the finest grapes possible. The vineyard is therefore managed according to the environmental principals of sustainable plant protection, specifically to manage the quality of the yields. Canopy management and yield control are practised throughout the vineyard, adapted to the climate and profile of each plot, using bud-stripping, leaf stripping, secondary shoot removal, lateral branch removal and if necessary, removing any inconsistent grapes from mid veraison onwards (green harvest). The date of the harvest is determined by regularly tasting the fruit, and is then evenly spread over time and carried out by hand, using small crates, selectively harvesting only the consistently ripe grapes by plot or micro-plot. Traditional vinification, individual wine parcels vinified separately. Small capacity  temperature controlled stainless steel -tanks. Vertical press to ensure gentle pressing.

Vintage 2009: Weather conditions were remarkable in 2009: high sunshine and temperatures, and exceptional water shortage, particularly this year in Saint-Estèphe. At Château Le Boscq, the clay content of the vineyard’s subsoil has played a significant role in preventing the hydric stress. Magnificent ripening was quite normal, and harvesting was quick, with excellent conditions. Gentle vinification retained the fruit, elegance and finesse of the tannins.

Harvest: Merlot: 29th of September to 9^th of October. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot: 12th and 13^th of October.

AGEING: during 12 months in oak barrels, 15% of which are new.

ESTATE BOTTLED: June 2011

Tasting Note

Very dark red in colour. The well-balanced, fresh bouquet exudes dark fruits and subtly roasted, oaky notes. The wine is round on the attack and well-structured on the palate, revealing a tannic structure enveloped in concentrated, ripe flesh. The dense, tight texture on the finish signals a wine with great ageing potential. This magnificent vintage at le Boscq oozes class, with abundant finesse and elegance. Frédéric Bonnaffous, Dourthe Estates Director

James Suckling

Soft and velvety red, with berry, nutmeg and clove character. Fresh acidity. Spicy finish. Delicious already, but better in 2015. 90 Points, March 2012

Decanter Magazine

Highly recommended : Gorgeous nose with a discreet opulence showing black fruit, cedar and cinnamon spice. Tannins are a bit green but there is good depth and it should turn out well. Rewarding velvety textures and some complexity, it is fresh, alluring and long. 17 Points, Highly recommended, November 2012

Food Pairing

Ideally matches red meats (eg. bison steak with fig-balsamic sauce, grilled skirt steak, slow grilled rack of lamb with mustard and herbs, roast beef with root vegetable salad, braised lamb with potatoes) and French mature cheese (bethmale, chevrotin, edam, Ossau Iraty, tomme de Savoie, tête de moine…).