Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Château Desmirail is a Third Growth property in the 1855 classification, situated in an outstanding terroir within the Margaux appellation. The elegant manor house dates back to the 18th century, when the name was given by Jean Desmirail upon marrying Demoiselle Rausan and receiving the château as part of her dowry. Today the property is owned by Denis Lurton who took over from his father Lucien, an iconic figure in Bordeaux wine, in 1992. The château which comprises 37 hectares of vineyard, is situated in the commune of Cantenac and is well placed on the Route des Châteaux. Initial is their second wine, produced in part from younger vines and made in the same elegant house style.

THE VINTAGE:
Late winter and early spring were unusually dry and mild which prompted early budburst, however a cold snap in April and May saw late spring frosts. The early part of the summer was exceptionally hot, with vines experiencing the effects of drought. Some heavy rains at the end of July provided much-needed relief for the vines and the temperatures cooled down in August. The cooler weather continued into September with light rain, which helped the vines to retain balancing acidity and the harvest took place over three weeks instead of the usual two. The wines show sophisticated tannins and aromatic elegance.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The vineyard is located around the town of Cantenac, neighbouring Château Palmer and Cantenac Brown. Bordeaux enjoys a maritime climate, influenced by the sea, with warm summers and cool winters. The soils are made up of Margaux’s renowned freedraining gravel which contributes to the rich style of wine imbued with finesse and elegance. The vines are trained according to a double Guyot trellising system and are green harvested in order to concentrate the flavours in the remaining fruit. The grapes are carefully selected and harvested by hand, when they have reached optimum maturity.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
Château Desmirail strives to express excellent Margaux typicity. The grapes from each parcel were vinified separately. During fermentation, the frequency of pump-overs and maceration length was carefully tailored to each tank, in order to achieve the desired levels of extraction and structure. Blending took place at the end of the winter, followed by maturation in oak barriques for 12 months.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
A real purity of fruit is showcased in this elegant Margaux, with abundance of blackcurrant, black cherry and fruits of the forest, complemented by subtle hints of cedar, toast and cinnamon. Elegant with silky tannins, it is perfectly balanced through to a lingering finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Merlot 55%, Cabernet Sauvignon 43%, Petit Verdot 2%.