2010 Château Gigault Cuvée Viva Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

“Black cherries, juniper berries, and finely ribbed tannins...”

2010 Château Gigault Cuvée Viva Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux

Château Gigault is located in Mazion, north of Blaye, and its 14 hectares of vine splay across a hill just 4 km east of the broad Gironde. Soils here are clay and chalk, and their cépage is dominated by Merlot with a little Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc. Viticulture is traditional but the estate uses no herbicides. Fruit is hand sorted then fermented in temperature-controlled tank, and the wine ages in equal parts new, 1-year, and 2-year barriques.

It has a fresh aspect despite the ample 2010 vintage, and its deep ruby color sports a clear rim. The body effuses a fragrance of black cherries, juniper, juniper berries, and cedar, and its texture is smooth and velvety, with finely ribbed tannins, bright acidity, and an astringent cherry-coffee wake-up before the finish flames out in sharp red fruits.

It’s not a complicated wine, but the acid backbone truly makes it.

14.5% abv | About $20 (sample)

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