Rating:

Product Description:

Blackish, deep purple and somewhat crimson color. Enigmatic. Powerful bouquet of liquorish, with subtle hints of chocolate, blackberry, and stewed blackcurrant. Rich and full boded on the palate with finely grained tannin and an ethereal sort of elegance. A svelte, thoroughbred wine. It has power, depth, delicacy, complexity. Open and decant carefully one or two hours before drinking.

Named for the Mercuès vineyard’s exceptionally high plantation density, this wine is a work of art that will satisfy all rare bottle enthusiasts. The vineyard is planted in a superb silty-clay terroir ideal for winegrowing. The vines are located on the third terraces of the Cahors Valley. Its density is unusually high: 50% of the vineyard has a density of 6,666 vines per hectare, i.e. 65% more than the local average. Most plantations in the Cahors Appellation have average density of 4,000 vines per hectare, but at Château de Mercuès plantation density reaches 6,666 vines per hectare for half the vineyard, as high as for the great Medoc wines. This is particularly favourable for the Malbec grape, which has been grown in Cahors for more than 2,000 years. It reduces yield per stock and increases the quality of the wine, giving it very high concentration and ageing potential.

The wine making is done with lot of rigor: parcellar selection, prefermentation maceration, slow “remontages”. The wine is aged for 18 months in Allier wood barel.