- CRITICAL REVIEWS
- WINEMAKER NOTES
Jeb Dunnuck
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Vinous
2018 Chateau le Gay, Pomerol, France
TERROIR The property spreads over 10.5 hectares in one unique holding. The clay and gravel soils of the Pomerol plateau.
GRAPE VARIETY PROPORTION 10 % of Cabernet franc, that brings roundness, suppleness and fruit, 90 % of Merlot that gives finesse, body and fruit. Age of vines: 40 years on average, the young vines planted in 2006 produce Le Manoir de Gay.
VINEYARD WORK Pruning adapted to each vinestock, de-budding and green harvesting on the young vines. Leaf thinning in two phases.
VINIFICATION Château LE GAY: Hand-picked harvest in small cartons, double sorting table before de-stemming then sorted berry-by-berry, cellar; Micro-vinification in new oak barrels with a long period of cold maceration.
BARREL AGEING The same French oak barrels used for Micro-vinification will house the wine during 18 months for the malo-lactic fermentation and ageing.
PRODUCTION Château LE GAY : 20.000 bottles (based on a yield of 25 HL/Ha).
« Pomerol has become a myth. This small Bordeaux appellation, unbothered by the classifications, unknown only a half century ago, has revealed itself to have a formidable potential. Its reigning grape variety, the Merlot, produces its full expression and in Pomerol, for the savvy, one speaks of the plateau, saint of saints where we find Le Gay amongst the most prestigious of crus ». MICHEL ROLLAND