Gaïa
de
Château Puybarbe
APPELLATION
Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg AOP
GRAPE VARIETIES
76 % Merlot, 22 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Malbec
WINEMAKING
Meticulously selected grapes entered first a 5-day cold maceration, followed by temperature-controlled fermentation to retain the purity of fruit, elegance and freshness. Long and gentle 40-day extraction, parcel by parcel vinification, racking three times and aging for 18 months prior bottling.
COLOR
Dark red.
NOTES
“Ripe fruits, spicy, full-bodied, long finish” 91/100p Decanter World Wine Awards, 2022
PRODUCER NOTES
Château Puybarbe is situated at the highest elevation of the Côtes de Bourg appellation looking over the Gironde estuary on the right bank of Bordeaux. The 41-hectare vineyard comprises predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and is cultivated according to sustainable philosophies. Château Puybarbe is in second year Organic and Biocyclic Vegan conversion and uses no herbicides or chemical fertilizers and is both HVE (High Environmental Value) and ISO 14001 certified since 2017. A modern winery was inaugurated for the year 2001’s harvest. It integrates many technical advances, such as gravity filling of vats and micro/macro oxygenation, at the service of a traditional know-how respectful of the grapes and the wine, and with a clear objective to be one of the best producers in AOP “Côtes de Bourg”.
VINTAGE
Followed by a mild and rainy winter, the spring started early with almost summer-like conditions – the budburst took place already mid-March, three weeks earlier than normal. The cool period from early April to mid-May 2019 slowed down the growth. The return of warm weather from mid-May onwards led to rapid flowering, a guarantee of quality. The high temperatures in early June accelerated the vine growth and overall, the summer 2019 will be remembered because of the two periods of extreme heat – the Canicule – with afternoon temperatures well over 40C. Furthermore, there was no rain from mid-June until end of September. These conditions resulted to perfectly ripe, relatively thick-skinned, highly concentrated grapes resembling the years 2015 and 2009.
VINEYARD
The vineyards sit on a south-sloping sun-drenched plateau. Vines are planted at 5,000 plants per hectare in calcareous-clay soils. Average age of vines is 29 years, oldest parcels 75 years. The vineyard is managed sustainably. Natural weeds between the rows absorb excess moisture and promote microbial life in the soil. The vines are pruned to the double Guyot method, cultivated according to sustainable viticulture practices and with a strict control of yields (44 HL per hectare) on a plot by plot basis.
AWARDS & TASTING NOTES
Gaia de Chateau Puybarbe was awarded 91/100p in Decanter World Wine Awards, 2022, Silver Medal Bettane Desseauve prix-plaisir, 2023
SERVING SUGESTIONS
This wine is a delight with various including rich salads, various vegetarian meals as well as moderate red-meat dishes. Roasted chicken, fried veal escalope & duck confit.
Technical notes
Winemaker: Simon Abrivard
Production: 120 000 bottles
Vintage: 2019
TA: 5.0 g/L
RS: <2 g/L
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Vinmonopolets varenummer: Lanseres i BU i januar 2024
