Chateau Vray Croix de Gay 2020

A complex and aromatic wine from Pomerol

The estate

Chateau Vray Croix de Gay is located amongst and considered as one of the most beautiful estates of the Pomerol appellation on the right bank of the Bordeaux region. The former winemaker of Petrus, Jean-Claude Berrouet, joined the technical team of the chateau in 2013 as an oenologist-consultant.

The vineyard

The 3.67 hectare vineyard is distributed over 9 plots, which are further divided into micro-plots. Aged 50 years on average, the vines are planted in gravelly clay soils in the heart of the Pomerol plateau. The vineyard has been certified for organic farming since 2018.

The vintage

A historically rainy winter preceded a hot and humid spring. These conditions prompted the chateau’s teams to ramp up their efforts to manage the soils and protect the vines against various pressures. The dry conditions from mid-May encouraged a flowering that ranked among the earliest. The rain stopped from 19 June, giving way to dry and cool weather until the start of the ripening period in mid-July. Although the summer was hot and dry, the stormy spells in mid-August salvaged the vineyard and the ripening of the berries. In keeping with the earliness of the crop cycle, harvests began in advance of the other vintages.

The winemaking and aging

Harvests from 8 to 17 September for the Merlot and 26 September for the Cabernet Franc. Aging occurs in barrels (35% new barrels, 45% barrels of one previous wine, 20% barrels of two previous wines).

Blend

The 2020 Chateau Vray Croix de Gay is made of a blend of Merlot (75%) and Cabernet Franc (25%).

Tasting

The 2020 Chateau Vray Croix de Gay seduces with its deep, intense nose, which mixes fragrances of fresh fruits with delicate, floral notes. The palate harmoniously combines complexity and aromatic freshness with a subtly velvety tannic structure.