Chateau Le Crock St Estephe 2017

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.

The 2017 vintage in Saint-Estèphe was miraculous for its avoidance of the frosts that affected the rest of Bordeaux. Following a very dry autumn and winter, mild temperatures in February sparked an early bud-burst that began towards the end of March. The vines were fortunately spared the effects of the late April frosts thanks to their proximity to the Gironde river. Rainfall in June and good weather throughout the summer meant that fruit set was good, and veraison occurred eight to ten days earlier than usual. The harvest was also one of the earliest on record, producing richly coloured, well-balanced wines of great flavour intensity and acidity.

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