The stunning 18th century Château Puy Guilhem is located on the hills of Saillans, overlooking the appellations of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. The vineyard covers 14.5 hectares and is situated at the highest elevation of the Fronsac appellation, where the quality soils produce rich, concentrated grapes. The vineyard is manually cultivated following a sustainable philosophy and renowned consultant oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt vinifies by parcel, creating hand-crafted, fruit focused and beautifully balanced wines.
The appellation of Fronsac is on the right bank close to Saint Emilion, where the wines are dominated by Merlot. Château Puy Guilhem’s vineyard is situated in an elevated position of the appellation, atop high quality soil composed of a mix of clay and silt, which imparts structure to the wine. The vineyard is managed sustainably without the use of herbicides. Cover crops of grass are grown between the vines and managed with light tilling.
2010 is considered to be an excellent vintage. A cold winter, with high rainfall built soil water reserves. The weather patterns were changeable during the growing season, the hot weather during the summer was followed by cooler weather later in the season, preserving acidity levels. Excellent conditions during September enabled the grapes to reach perfect maturity, resulting in concentrated and full bodied wines; fresher than the 2009s. A classic vintage.
Fermentation took place in temperature controlled vats and lasted for 24 to 48 hours. The fermenting must was manually pumped over, with daily observations to check the evolution of the skins. Maceration lasted between three to four weeks to extract the desired levels of colour, flavour and tannins. The wine was aged for 12 to 16 months in French oak barrels, of which 50% were new and 50% was of one year.
A mature and traditionally styled Bordeaux, from a classic vintage, showing beautifully right now. A powerful yet elegant red with ripe berried fruits enhanced by a subtle note of oak spice. Full bodied, with juicy fruit and an attractive savoury note on the finish.
