Chateau La Chapelle Maillard Rouge 2021

Chateau La Chapelle Maillard Rouge
From the hillsides of the Dordogne at the edge of the Saint-Emilion appellation, this Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc has been certified organic since the 1980s, grown and made with minimal intervention to let the terroir speak for itself. Merlot dominant and aged for twelve months in seasoned oak, it shows a deep purple colour and a generous nose of ripe red and black fruit. On the palate it is round and velvety, with soft, approachable tannins and plenty of dark plum character running through to a silky finish. Accessible now, it also has the structure to develop further over the next five to eight years. At 13% ABV, it is a genuinely food friendly, organically farmed Bordeaux for everyday enjoyment.

What the winery says: Chateau La Chapelle Maillard sits on Castillon clay and Saint-Emilion limestone, on the hillside above the Dordogne, with vines that surround the ancient umbrella pine pictured on the label. The estate has held organic certification since the early 1980s, keeping treatments in the vineyard to an absolute minimum and taking the same restrained approach in the winery, with traditional vinification methods used to preserve the wine's natural character. The colour is a deep, attractive purple, with a fruity nose of ripe fruit leading into a textured, rounded palate with velvety softness and a silky, persistent finish.