Château Picque-Caillou Red 2019
Located in Mérignac, on the outskirts of Bordeaux, Château Picque-Caillou is one of the last historic vineyards of the Bordeaux metropolitan area, now surrounded by urban development. Situated in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, this estate benefits from a particularly favorable gravelly Garonne terroir for producing great red wines. Since 1997, Paulin and Isabelle Calvet have undertaken thorough work to enhance this vineyard, favoring attentive viticulture, controlled yields, and a constant pursuit of elegance. The château's name directly refers to the presence of pebbles and gravel in the soils, a legacy of the ancient alluvial terraces of the Garonne. These deep gravel soils ensure excellent drainage, promote vine rooting, and gradually release the heat accumulated during the day, thus contributing to the regular ripening of the grapes. The vineyard, about twenty hectares, is mainly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, two complementary grape varieties that here express all the finesse of the great Graves terroirs. Château Picque-Caillou Red stands out for a classic and refined style, where the precision of the fruit, the softness of the tannins, and the smoky nuances characteristic of Pessac-Léognan play an essential role.
The 2019 vintage is among the very fine recent successes of Bordeaux, thanks to a growing season marked by climatic contrasts ultimately very favorable to grape quality. After a relatively cool and wet spring, summer settled in with high temperatures and generous sunshine, punctuated by some rainy episodes that helped limit the effects of water stress. September conditions, combining warm days and cooler nights, favored a gradual and homogeneous ripening of the berries while preserving their aromatic freshness. On the gravelly soils of Picque-Caillou, the Cabernet Sauvignon particularly benefited from this late season, developing a beautiful concentration of phenolic compounds and ripe tannins, while the Merlot brought its fruity generosity and natural roundness. The harvest was conducted with precision to pick each grape variety at its optimal ripeness level. After a rigorous selection of grapes, vinification favored a gradual and controlled extraction, intended to preserve the elegance of the material rather than seek excessive power. Aging in French oak barrels then allowed refining the tannic structure and developing aromatic complexity while maintaining a faithful expression of the terroir. Château Picque-Caillou 2019 thus reflects the full success of this vintage, with a remarkable balance between fruit richness, freshness, and texture finesse.
Château Picque-Caillou Red 2019 reveals a deep and shiny garnet robe with still intense ruby reflections. Its elegant and expressive bouquet opens with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry, accompanied by floral nuances of violet and peony. With aeration, notes of cedar, graphite, blond tobacco, and fine spices enrich this aromatic palette, while a subtle smoky touch recalls the identity of the great wines of Pessac-Léognan. On the palate, the attack is supple and generous, with a fleshy body that maintains beautiful precision. The tannins, fine and well integrated, provide an elegant structure without harshness, while balanced acidity highlights the fruit's freshness and prolongs the tasting. Flavors of ripe blackcurrant, plum, and red fruits develop on nuances of licorice, cocoa, and precious wood, revealing harmonious complexity. The finish, long and persistent, is distinguished by its finesse, with delicate spicy and mineral notes that add relief to the whole. Already very pleasant to drink, this Pessac-Léognan also has a beautiful aging potential, during which it will gradually develop aromas of undergrowth, fine leather, and truffle. It will ideally accompany a roasted rack of lamb, a grilled rib steak, duck breast, beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, or farm poultry with mushrooms.
Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
