An incredible Bordeaux steal from one of the most globally recognizable appellations!

Pitch perfect Bordelaise extraction with a refined nose of blue-to-red fruit, clay dust, and cassis berries, the entry is excellently balanced with incredible weight, medium acidity, new leather, tarmac, and earth - all terroir. The finish is dry, showcasing integrated tannin, and medium+ length with further earthy terroir waves. Built to be laid down, this is equally a daily quaffer in its youth with a healthy decant.

Northwest of Bordeaux city proper, on the western bank of the river Gironde, lies a large landmass known as the Haut-Médoc. Home to the “Famous Four” Bordelaise appellations - Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, and Saint-Julien - the Haut-Médoc enjoys warmer weather than it’s more northern neighbor, Médoc, making for riper fruit, excellent minerality, and firmer, finer, more ageable wines. The more river-situated areas of the region focus on Cabernet Sauvignon growths, while the inland areas have shifted more towards Merlot growths, ultimately dominating Cab growths in these areas today.

Lot 853 is a treasure hunter’s dream. Being Merlot dominated, the source winery declassified one of the “Famous Four” appellate house blends by punching up their Merlot in favor of a more drinkable experience (that itself can still take on quite a fair amount of aging) in its youth and opting for the greater Haut-Médoc labeling vs. their sub-appellation (which is defined by Cab-dominated blends). Rooted to gravel, clay, and limestone soils, no expense was spared in the making of this bottle including a 14-month French oak regimen, world-class winemaking team, and a source winery nod to the possibility of 20+ years of graceful aging.