Chateau Le Crock St Estephe 2016

Description

Chateau Le Crock St Estephe

Chateau Le Crock St Estephe is intense purple in colour. Aromas of blackberries and plums are complemented by tobacco and hints of dark chocolate. The palate is richly textured with well integrated, silky tannins lifted by racy acidity on a long finish.

Following an unusually wet winter and spring, conditions improved from mid-June. Fortunately temperatures increased, bringing welcome sunshine and warmth to the region. The dry spell continued uninterrupted until harvest commenced on the 7th September.

The grapes are hand harvested into small crates and then meticulously sorted before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel and concrete tanks. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in French oak barrels, 30% new, for 18 months.

Located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, the vineyards of Château Le Crock span 32 hectares on gravel over clay soils planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The vines, on average 40 years old, are grown sustainably.

Château Le Crock is a Cru Bourgeois property in Saint-Estèphe sandwiched between second class growths Château Montrose to the north and Château Cos d’Estournel to the south. This property has had vines growing around it since the late 19th century. It was originally called ‘Cru de Croc’, which was the name given to the particular stony and gravelly soils of the region, until it became known at Château Le Crock in 1880. The property has been in the Cuvelier family since 1903, and has benefited from the improvements they have made to their other properties, including Château Léoville Poyferré and Château Moulin Riche.

Chateau Le Crock St Estephe – Hay Wines