2016 Clos Marsalette Pessac-Léognan

Clos Marsalette is located in the town of Martillac in the center of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The domain is owned by Mr. Boutemy of Château Haut-Lagrange in Pessac-Léognan, Mr. Sarpoulet and Comte de Neipberg, the man who makes top wines in Saint Emilion at Château Canon la Gaffelière, Château Clos de l'Oratoire and the famous Château La Mondotte. The vineyard is beautifully situated on gravelly hills deposited by the Garonne centuries ago. The subsoil offers great diversity and consists of marine sediment from the Miocene and Pliocene eras (5 to 15 million years ago) in the form of shell sand with a little clay, sand and clay. The Clos Marsalette vineyard, which covers an area of 12.30 hectares (for the red wine) plus 1.30 hectares (for the white wine), is also expertly maintained to produce a wine that reflects the typicality of this terroir.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the Clos Marsalette releases the scent of stewed plums, baked black cherries and mulberries with a hint of cassis, cigar box and pencil lead. Medium-bodied, the palate has a firm, chewy texture and lots of earth-laced black fruit, ending just a tad firm.