2022 Château Peybonhomme Les Tours, Côtes de Blaye, Bordeaux, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

This classic right bank Bordeaux is a blend of  75% Merlot , 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Malbec. The estate has been organic and biodynamic since 2000. Vines are 40+ years old, train through double Guyot pruning, spontaneous winter grass cover. Soils of clay and limestone are tilled during the spring, while every other row is ploughed. Treatments combining small quantities of Bordeaux mixture with herbal teas such as horsetail or nettle.

Grapes are destemmed and fermentated using yeast native to the estate, temperature controlled for 18-24 months in concrete tanks. No inputs apart from limited quantities of sulphur (40mg/l). No fining; bottled on a fruit day of the biodynamic calendar.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The Hubert family settled at Château Peybonhomme-Les-Tours in the village of Cars near Blaye in 1985, and six generations have followed since. The estate is located on a hill overlooking the estuary, with the vineyards on the slopes. From its 17th-century castellated tower, we have a spectacular panoramic view of the entire estate and the Gironde estuary.

The estate has been certified biodynamic (Demeter) since 2000, they are the largest certified biodynamic estate in the region. They use herbal teas (nettle, horsetail), natural composts, and promote biodiversity and agroforestry to protect auxiliary vineyard predators. Wines are fermented with native yeasts using concrete vats to preserve fresh fruit character. They are minimally filtered, unfined, and use low levels of sulfur