The producer
Since 1616, Chateau Marquis d'Alesme has watched over an exceptional terroir in Margaux, in the heart of the Bordeaux region. Combining exoticism and classicism, Chateau Marquis d'Alesme is a land filled with passion and culture.
The vineyard
Chateau Marquis d'Alesme manages a 15-hectare vineyard in a plot-by-plot manner. The vineyard is managed with the greatest care thanks to the craftsmanship of the Chateau's team. The vines are 40 years old on average, benefiting from an eastern exposure and planted on clay-limestone, siliceous gravel and clay soils.
The vintage
Throughout the year, the vines were cultivated with the greatest respect for the soil and the ecosystems, paying particular attention to the balance and well-being of the plant and the auxiliary fauna. At the end of September, the harvest begins, during which the chateau's teams manually pick the best grapes. The harvest lasts until the 17th of October 2014 when the last perfectly ripe grapes are selected.
The vinification and aging
The wine is fermented in wooden and stainless steel tanks followed by malolactic fermentation in barrels. Chateau Marquis d'Alesme 2014 is aged in French oak barrels, 60% of which are new and 40% are first fill barrels. The wine is aged on lees for 3 months.
The blend
Chateau Marquis d'Alesme 2014 comprises a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Merlot (31%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Petit Verdot (5%).
The tasting
Marquis d'Alesme 2014 exemplifies a Margaux wine that perfectly captures the nuances of its terroir in a "millésime de terroir". With a dense aromatic expression, the wine has a nice body on the palate with tight but well-extracted tannins, a dark fruity retro-olfaction and a more melted tannic finish. The wine has weight and should become more seamless towards the end of the aging period. More powerful than usual.
The 2014 Marquis d'Alesme Becker has a tightly wound bouquet that is not quite as expressive as the 2014 Labégorce that I tasted alongside. Black fruit here, a touch of melted tar and violets, but it needs several years. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly tough tannin on the entry. This does not quite flow as well as its peers at the moment, although there is satisfying complexity and nuance on the finish that suggests it simply needs more bottle age. The salinity on the aftertaste is very pleasing.