La Belle Connivence 2020

The aromatic charm of the second wine from a must-know name in Pomerol 

The property

The story of the Château La Connivence is above all a story of friendship with three wine-loving friends who decide to create a very good wine. The superb Pomerol appellation then becomes the cradle of this connivance that unites the three owners: Johan Micoud, former international footballer, Matthieu Chalmé, former player of the Girondins de Bordeaux and Alexandre de Malet Roquefort, owner of the Château La Gaffelière in Saint-Émilion. 

The vineyard

A garden vineyard, Château La Connivence is a real little gem: 1.40 hectares located on a very large terroir of Pomerol, emblematic land of merlot, the flagship grape variety that covers 65% of the estate's land. The château has also chosen to plant cabernet franc, which represents 35% of the vineyard. On this gravel terroir combining fat gravels, fine gravels and clayey sandy soils, the 3 friends immediately sense that the perfect conditions are met to be able to produce a very great Pomerol red wine. In order to preserve this precious terroir, the vines are exclusively worked by hand and managed in a reasoned agriculture.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage stands out for its early character. The growth of the vine is indeed rapid due to the wet and mild spring season that follows a mild winter. Significant rainfall episodes lead to a pressure of mildew as the winemakers have never known. Losses on some plots are to be noted due to the damage caused by a stormy episode. However, the flowering presents a beautiful homogeneity thanks to favorable conditions. The harvest takes place about ten days in advance, under the high temperatures that marked the summer of 2020.

Vinification and aging

After manual harvesting, the grape is sorted by density. Subsequently, a parcel vinification is carried out in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks with an alcoholic fermentation marked by pumping over and punching down and a malolactic fermentation. The wine ages for 14 to 16 months in new French oak barrels.

Blend

Merlot (70%) and cabernet franc (30%).