Chateau Meyney, Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux 2019
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Château Meyney was one of the first sites in the Médoc to be planted with vines. In 1662, it was a convent mentioned in records under the names Couvent des Feuillants or Prieuré des Couleys. It belonged to the Feuillants monks. Today, the estate stretches over some of the best hilltops above the Gironde Estuary. The river lying alongside the first rows of vines makes for a majestic, serene landscape. The estate belonged to the Luetkens family for several generations, and was then acquired by Mr Désiré Cordier in 1919. In 2004, CA Grands Crus, a subsidiary of the Groupe Crédit Agricole, acquired Château Meyney, with a determination to strengthen the potential of this outstanding cru. Meyney benefits from an exceptional site, a unique terroir, a rich and long history dating back to the 16th century, making it an outstanding Medoc estate.
Vines are planted on a favourable sloping rise composed of gravel, sand, limestone and a deep layer of blue clay, the latter principally planted with Merlot and Petit Verdot. Being near the estuary, the vineyard is largely protected from frosts. The average age of the vines is 35-40 years, with fruit from the younger vines typically used for the second wine.
Grapes are sorted twice, first in the vineyard and again in the winery, and then fermented in vats. Larger vats have been replaced with a range of smaller sizes to enable more individual plots to be vinified separately. The grand vin is aged for 15 months in 30% new French oak barrels; the second wine, made with fruit from younger vines, typically sees 10–15% new oak.
Weather in 2019 An outstanding vintage in St-Estèphe. For the vines, mildew posed less of a threat than previous years. Flowering was slightly disturbed by rainy episodes that were followed by one of the hottest summers on record. A few showers in September eventually enabled the grapes to reach optimal maturity. For many estates, the favourable weather conditions were conducive to minimal treatments and subsequently beneficial to the environment. The harvest date did not deviate from the thirty-year average. For the wines, sugar levels were relatively high, and extractions were performed rapidly to harness the tannins. All in all, this resulted in a great vintage.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: St-Estèphe, on the border with Pauillac
Grape Varieties: 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot & 16% Petit Verdot.
Drink: Now to 2048
Tasting Note: The 2019 Meyney has a divine bouquet, so pure and winsome with floral red berry scents, beautifully integrated new oak and superb precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy to the point where you can almost overlook the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It could have been blowsy, yet it retains superb balance and feels luxuriant and long on the finish. This is a stellar showing easily eclipsing its performances either in barrel or just after bottling. - Tasted by Neal Martin
Vines are planted on a favourable sloping rise composed of gravel, sand, limestone and a deep layer of blue clay, the latter principally planted with Merlot and Petit Verdot. Being near the estuary, the vineyard is largely protected from frosts. The average age of the vines is 35-40 years, with fruit from the younger vines typically used for the second wine.
Grapes are sorted twice, first in the vineyard and again in the winery, and then fermented in vats. Larger vats have been replaced with a range of smaller sizes to enable more individual plots to be vinified separately. The grand vin is aged for 15 months in 30% new French oak barrels; the second wine, made with fruit from younger vines, typically sees 10–15% new oak.
Weather in 2019 An outstanding vintage in St-Estèphe. For the vines, mildew posed less of a threat than previous years. Flowering was slightly disturbed by rainy episodes that were followed by one of the hottest summers on record. A few showers in September eventually enabled the grapes to reach optimal maturity. For many estates, the favourable weather conditions were conducive to minimal treatments and subsequently beneficial to the environment. The harvest date did not deviate from the thirty-year average. For the wines, sugar levels were relatively high, and extractions were performed rapidly to harness the tannins. All in all, this resulted in a great vintage.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: St-Estèphe, on the border with Pauillac
Grape Varieties: 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot & 16% Petit Verdot.
Drink: Now to 2048
Tasting Note: The 2019 Meyney has a divine bouquet, so pure and winsome with floral red berry scents, beautifully integrated new oak and superb precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy to the point where you can almost overlook the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It could have been blowsy, yet it retains superb balance and feels luxuriant and long on the finish. This is a stellar showing easily eclipsing its performances either in barrel or just after bottling. - Tasted by Neal Martin
