2022 Château Péby Faugères Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

Château Péby Faugères is a unique winery with a very small Merlot vineyard of 7.45 ha in the extension of the south of St. Emilion, with an exceptional terroir of clay-limestone with old vines (approx. 45 years) planted on slopes next to Ch. Faugères where very low yields (20hl/ha) are produced. The wine matures for 18 months in 65% new oak and the fermentation takes place partly in small oak barrels (microvinification). The wonder duo Michel Rolland and Stephan Von Neipperg provide the advice here. Only 9000 bottles of this delicacy are produced and this for worldwide distribution.

The wine is presented in a sculpted bottle featuring the image of a blackbird, and for good reason. From the 2009 vintage onwards, Silvio Denz gave Château Péby Faugères the image that has come to define it: The Blackbird and the Grapes, designed by René Lalique in 1928, which is engraved on every bottle of Château Péby Faugères. Silvio Denz is a passionate collector, with a particular fondness for the art of René Lalique – so much so that he took over the business. Merlot is the grape variety used at Château Péby Faugères, and he has managed to unite his two loves in perfect harmony: the art of René Lalique and the art of wine that he strives to perfect at Château Péby Faugères. The word "merlot" means "little blackbird" in French dialect. The name was given to the grape because of its black color and also the fact that blackbirds like to eat them.

The Château Péby Faugères Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Grand Cru Classé) is made from 100% Merlot, the Péby Faugères has a deep garnet purple colour and comes out of the glass with inviting notes of blueberry tart, plum pudding, chocolate covered cherries and mulberries with hints of eucalyptus, cinnamon stick, cloves and unsmoked cigars plus a hint of cigar box. The palate is full, tight and muscular with a rock-solid structure of firm, velvety tannins and a delicious freshness, which finishes very long with lots of mineral notes.