Château Peyfaures : Dame de Coeur du Chateau Peyfaures 2012

A Bordeaux Superieur with a Generous and Smooth Palate

The Bordeaux Superieur property Chateau Peyfaures was first established in the year 1830 in the hamlet of Genissac in eastern Entre-deux-Mers, across the Dordogne from Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. The vines are grown in soils of clay-limestone. They are cultivated with biodynamic and organic viticultural practices. This Bordeaux Superieur estate seeks to return to traditional Bordelais winemaking, which was popular before modern practices arrived. After being picked by hand, the grapes get crushed inside a basket press. Then, spontaneous fermentation takes place with 100% autochthonous yeasts occurring naturally on the fruit. Chateau Peyfaures follows a minimal intervention and parcel-by-parcel approach, as a way to let the vineyard shine through. The Chateau Peyfaures Dame de Coeur bottling is made from a particularly impressive old block of Merlot, which is then blended with Cabernet Franc. This wine is aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 18 months and full malolactic takes place in the barrel.

The Dame de Coeur du Chateau Peyfaures 2012 blends 90% Merlot from the estate's oldest vines with 10% Cabernet Franc. The quality of the latter was quite nice in the 2012 vintage, adding a certain gravelly minerality to the ample fruit of the Merlot. In the glass, the 2012 vintage shows off an opulent purple color. The nose of this Bordeaux Superieur expresses rich and luscious red and black fruit, as well as toasted bread, mocha, cocoa and almond aromas. Nutty notes and spicy touches come through from the oak aging. From the entry to the finish, this wine displays complex, layered flavors and a smooth mouthfeel, with tannins that are well-rounded and well-integrated. This is a wine that is definitely charming and fruit-forward in its youth but that will also age gracefully in the cellar.