Les Parcellaires – Peykem

Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Tabakig-kräuterwürzig unterlegte schwarze Beerenfrucht, Nuancen von frischen Brombeeren und etwas Cassis, zart mit Nougat unterlegt. Saftig, schwarze Kirschen, Wacholderbeeren, präsente Tannine, die gut integriert sind, pfeffrige Nuancen, etwas Kardamom, mineralischer Nachhall, sehr guter Sortencharakter, klassisches Sortenprofil, wird von Flaschenreife profitieren.

Pale crimson. Fresh nose that is recognisably varietal but without much guts on the mid palate. Just a little inky on the end. A contrast to the other red Parcellaires 2020 from Dourthe but maybe just a little too light?

The Peykem parcel sits within the vineyard of Château Reysson, and has soils of clay and limestone. It is planted exclusively to Cabernet Franc, which after harvest has been vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel cuves, followed by maturation in Tava clay amphorae. This was tasted from a 100 ml WITT sample tube. It has a beautiful perfume on the nose, with smoked blackcurrant, damson and currant, with a floral violet freshness. The palate starts off medium-bodied and taut, melding black bean and currant fruits with white pepper and black plum, set in a savoury cushion framed by lightly grained tannins and fresh acidity, the former providing some grip to the finish. An attractive style with a peppery zip to the finish. For the northern Médoc, an interesting result, and it will be interesting to see how it develops.

One of three new single-varietal expressions taken from among the best vineyards Dourthe owns. This is a 100% Cabernet Franc from a clay-limestone plot at Château Reysson in the Haut-Médoc appellation. Bright and lively on the nose; freshly picked red cherries and some soft purple floral scents making it so inviting. You can tell it's Cabernet Franc straight away with herbal and raspberry hints. Lots of tension, power and concentration - this is focussed and direct with mouthfilling tannins that come across as a bit dry at first but do expand after a few minutes. The fruit elements remain quite precise, a mixture of bramble blackcurrants and red berries. You definitely get a sense of the terroir and the winemaking, nothing is hidden with a subtle saltiness and lots of fresh mint on the finish. Feels pure and classy if not super complex, but this has real charm and I love the overall expression of both place and grape. Ageing 12 months in amphora.

Les parcellaires Peykem 2020 du Château Reysson, Haut Médoc. 20 €. Le terrain argilo calcaire est orienté plein nord. Les maturations du cabernet franc sont lentes. Elevage 100% en amphore pendant 12 mois. Le nez a un coté lacté, reine-claude à l’eau-de-vie, fraise écrasée, menthol et laurier. L’attaque est sur la fraîcheur et le végétal noble puis les fruits rouges prennent la main (groseille, fruits des bois). La finale est légèrement lactée et sucrée, sur une belle fraîcheur. Un vin droit, porté par une jolie acidité. Le coté dense et resserré des tanins est atténué par la micro-oxygénation de l’amphore. Avec un axoa de veau.

Une nouveauté inspirée de la maison Dourthe qui sort une gamme de trois parcellaires en rupture avec les codes bordelais de l’assemblage. En particulier, ce pur cabernet franc provenant d’une parcelle argilo-calcaire du Château Reysson adaptée à ce cépage qui supporte mal le stress hydrique. Il y révèle toute sa finesse et son croquant. Le cabernet sauvignon La Gravière et le Sémillon 54 de l’AOC Graves complètent la gamme.

Cabernet Franc from Château Reysson, from three different sorts of clay-limestone soils. Fermented in stainless steel, then aged in amphorae. Lovely aromatic gravelly nose with sweet chalky green-tinged cherry and blackcurrant fruit. The palate has nice texture and sweet blackcurrant fruit with a chalky, grainy structure. Fresh with a hint of mint. This is the essence of Cabernet Franc with a sweet, gravelly, chalky texture.

The 2020 Les Parcellaires - Peykem, 100% Cabernet Franc, is an intriguing wine. Although not obvious in any way, the 2020 impresses with its energy. Time in the glass brings out vibrant floral, mineral and savory notes to play off the red-toned Franc fruit. This sinewy, nuanced Franc has a ton to offer. Dried herbs, scorched earth and sage linger on the persistent yet understated finish.

La Parcelle Peykem tire son nom du lieu-dit attenant au Château Reysson. Cette parcelle est optimale de par ses sols argilo-calcaires propices au cabernet franc, un cépage qui supporte difficilement les contraintes hydriques. Il préfère la stabilité, un climat ni trop sec, ni trop humide, et ce afin d’avoir une évolution continue sur l’ensemble du cycle végétatif. Trois types de sols sur cette parcelle : le calcosol argilo-limoneux sableux sur calcaire à astéries, le calcosol argilo-limoneux sur argiles calcaires et le calcosol très argileux. Le bouquet se révèle lentement, de manière filigrane. Belle fusion entre la fraîcheur variétale, des notes florales et des nuances de myrtilles. Caractère dense en bouche où le vin dispose de tannins serrés aux grains fins apparaissant en fin de bouche. A l’image du bouquet, le palais se révèle étape par étape. Un vin subtil, incisif et sapide. Il mérite un peu de garde pour s’épanouir et gagner en expression aromatique au niveau gustatif. Il a tout pour réussir ; de la chair et du muscle !

We head up to the Haut-Médoc for the third wine of the trio—to Château Reysson, which has been selected for its clay-limestone soils, which are ideally suited to Cabernet Franc. A deep, noble color, the aromatics initially reticent, then finally ceding a little of Cabernet Franc’s seductive perfume; cassis leaves and crushed blackberry, as well as spices, in the background. The palate is impressive, its concentration providing a dignified foil for the silky aromatic rejoinders, then a pleasing, playful lift on the finish, confirming quality and enhancing the already not inconsiderable pleasure quota. This wine was aged for 12 months in amphorae only.