Review: Chateau Peyrabon 2004
- vinterest
- Jun 11, 2015
- 2 min read
The low-down: Chateau Peyrabon is a large-ish Haut Medoc chateau with 52 ha under vine, including 7 ha in Pauillac. They produce two wines in addition to this - their Pauillac and a Haut Medoc second wine. As in most Haut Medoc vineyards, cabernet sauvignon is the dominant grape. In 1998 Millesima, a European mail order wine company, took over the chateau.
The Haut Medoc AOP is the western-most strip of land (60 km long) in Bordeaux wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde River estuary. For most of its history, the Haut-Medoc was a collection of salt marshes used for animal grazing rather than viticulture. In the 17th century, Dutch merchants drained the marshland. Their objective was to provide the British market an alternative to Graves and Portuguese wines. Using technology that was advanced for that time, the Dutch were able to convert enough marshland to allow large estates to form all along the Gironde. By the 19th century, the wine region of Haut Medoc was one of the most prosperous in France.
We've opened a couple of Haut Medocs lately including a 2009 Lamothe Bergeron and a 2007 Cambon La Pelouse. This little number was a gift from some dear friends of ours in Dubai. With 11 years it should definitely be peaking!
The take: A very dark red, almost brown. Not the usual color of a cab sav. Very leggy. The nose is light with notes of old barn, chalk, bay leaf, forest floor and cinnamon. The attack is initially thick with tannins. With a decant it becomes smoother, creamy, with a hint of blackcurrant. Delicate with a modest tannic base, some acidity and a peppery bite.
In closing: Finely balanced.
Rating: 8 out of 10.
Fact corner:
Country: France
Region: Haut Medoc (AOC) Cru Bourgeois
Producer: Chateau Peyrabon
Vintage: 2004
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
Alcohol content: 13.0%
Serving temperature: n/a
Price range: Mid-range
Comments