7/1/26 - 

Today’s Bordeaux offer is inspired by the arrival of two single-parcel Saint-Émilions from Chateau Daugay, which were highlights of our tastings in France last winter, each one vinified to provide beautiful current drinking, served cool, with anything off the grill and casual summer meals! The wines feature whole-cluster fermentations, aging in anfora and old barrels and minimal use of SO2 – the wines are gorgeous, with lovely textures and beautiful pure fruit! Enjoy now and over the next 5 years... 

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Thierry de Boüard Grenié of Chateau Daugay

"Chateau Daugay is a small family-owned estate producing  hand-crafted organic wines. Located on the southwest slope of the Saint-Émilion plateau, vines at Daugay go back to the 14th century, with the name Daou Gay arising about 500 years ago referring to jaybirds present there. (Hence the bird names “Piaf” and “Piou” of the new wines.) Part of the vineyard is situated on a limestone - clay soil, including blue clay, perfectly suited to the production of high quality Merlot . The other part is clayey -siliceous , allowing the Cabernets to express themselves as purely as possible. Winemaker Thierry de Bouard-Grenier, a fourth - generation winemaker from Saint -Émilion, was practically raised in a barrel and taught the craft by his grandfather. After three years as Deputy Director at Angelus, he’s been running the family estate, mastering the fine balance between tradition, terroir and pretending he knows where his set of keys is.” 

2024 Ch. Daugay Saint-Émilion “Piaf”  A beautiful 100% Merlot from a 1.3 ha plot of gravelly/silty soils over the limestone, done in low temperature whole-cluster fermentation with gentle extraction. Aged on the lees for 6 months, 50% in anfora, 50% in old 400 liter barrels. Lovely bright blackberry aromas and pure, high-toned berry fruits on the palate, with a long lingering finish, supple and delicious! 

2024 Ch. Daugay Saint-Émilion “Piou” 100% Cabernet Franc, from a tiny single parcel of sandy iron-rich soils over the limestone, yielding only 24 hl/ha.  As with Piaf, whole berry fermentation in stainless steel tanks.  Aged for 6 months, 50% in amphorae and 50% old 400L casks. "Piou" is a delightful wine, showing the pure beauty of Cabernet Franc on limestone, supple and elegant with complex and sapid fruit and beautiful texture, really a pretty wine. Serve cool this summer and over the next 3 to 5 years. 

Also arrived, 2023 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru “Rooj” and 2022 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru “Pavillon” both from the estate’s younger vines, aged in old barrels, for lovely current drinking and short-term aging; and the 2019 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru from the estate’s best parcels and oldest vines, aged in 20% new barrels – delicious now and over the next 15 to 20 years. 

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Planquette is Back!!
During our search for organic and natural Bordeaux back in 2013, we were ecstatic to find Didier Michaud's "Chateau Planquette!" Not exactly a "chateau," M. Michaud farmed 1.7 hectares in Saint Yzans and Couquèques in the northern Medoc on high ground of gravel and clay over the limestone plateau, equal parts Cab and Merlot with a small percentage of an old strain of Petit Verdot. It's a tiny artisanal production, a unique and delicious wine of terroir with zero additives.  Didier has taken a much-desrved retirement and happily the estate is being continued with the same philosophy by Blandine Prévot and Jérémy Borde.  The 2023 Planquette is sensational, as usual,  showing a dark red/black color with very ripe cassis and blackberry aromas with licorice, violet, bitter chocolate and earth. The palate is dense, deep and supple, with black fruit liqueur, earth and mineral flavors. The mid-palate is elegant with a core of chalky black fruit and minerals that continues in the long finish. Enjoy over the next 15 years...

Also from Blandine and Jeremy is the 2022 Chateau Peylaby Médoc "Le Hérisson," a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified and bottled without SO2 and aged 8 months in anfora. This needs time to open up, then shows very elegant black fruits and terrific length - a beautiful natural Bordeaux to serve with grilled foods this summer and over the next ten years...

Please take a moment to look through the rest of today's offer which includes our favorite organic and Biodynamic estates from Bordeaux, both for current enjoyment and for longer term aging...

-David Lillie

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