Château Les Grandes Murailles 2020

The sophistication of a Classified Great Growth from Saint-Émilion

The estate

Château Les Grandes Murailles, a Classified Great Growth from Saint-Émilion, is located near Clos Fourtet, which also belongs to the Cuvelier family. Blessed with a great terroir on the right bank of Bordeaux, the Cuvelier family is driven by the desire to produce timeless wines of great finesse and significant ageing potential.

The vineyard

The Château Les Grandes Murailles vineyard covers an island of 1.96 hectares in the heart of Saint-Émilion. It is planted in the clay-limestone soils typical of the appellation. The vines are cultivated in accordance with natural balances and sustainable agriculture.

The vintage

A mild and particularly wet winter rebalanced the soils' water reserves, which were impoverished by the drought in 2019, promoting an early vine budding. Spring was hot and humid. Milder conditions between 12 and 25 May allowed for flowering to be in good conditions. Subsequently, the dry and cool climate, combined with limited water stress, was ideal for ensuring the grapes’ gradual ripening. At the beginning of September, the alternation of hot days and cool nights was beneficial for the berries’ aromatic expression.

Winemaking and ageing

Fermentation in small, thermoregulated, stainless steel vats and in earthenware. Gentle extraction through pour-overs and punch-downs to preserve the purity of the fruit. Vatting for 24 days. Malolactic fermentation in vats. Ageing, which takes place in an underground cellar, lasts for 16 to 18 months in barrels (of which 50% are new and 50% are of one previous wine).

Blend

The 2020 Château Les Grandes Murailles is 100% Merlot.

Tasting

Colour

The wine is a beautiful deep and dark colour.

Nose

The nose harmoniously mixes fragrances of cigar box and tangy red fruits with subtle floral notes.

Palate

Precise and beautifully fresh, the attack precedes a palate which seduces with its silky tannins, its crisp fruit, its length and its persistence.