Neal Rosenthal has been importing Haut-Segottes since the mid-‘70s, just five years after its current leader, Mme. Meunier, took over. Those deep roots tell you just about everything you need to know about this artisanal producer. She farms organically, harvests manually, ferments long and slow with natural yeasts in concrete, and ages in mostly old wood.Most interestingly, Meunier is not afraid of Cabernet Franc. Maybe it’s because one of her vineyards is so close to Cheval Blanc, but whatever the reason, her flagship wine is over 50% Cab Franc, even though she has more Merlot planted overall. She also has plenty of gravel soils and some of that iron. This all works together to give aromatics of subtle complexity, with floral notes and something earthier that work beautifully with the redder fruit flavors. The palate has similar complexity and a structure that makes the wine perfect for traditional Bordeaux foods like lamb, duck or beef, and that also guarantees a long, long life in the cellar.
What importer Rosenthal Wine Merchant has to say about this wine...
The estate’s second wine provides a supple, beguiling counterpoint to the flagship cuvée’s muscular classicism. Comprised entirely of Merlot—partly from a one-hectare plot in the dark-sand soils of Corbin, and partly from a hectare in Fortin—Clos Petit-Corbin displays the sheer elegance the variety can achieve in this appellation. Florent and Danielle employ no new wood here, and a small portion of the wine remains in tank during the élévage, thereby further emphasizing its purity and drinkability. What strikes the drinker about this wine is its sense of grace: this is not Merlot forced into some caricature of voluptuousness or gym-pumped into an awkward imitation of Cabernet; rather, it revels comfortably in its lip-smacking red-fruited prettiness. It’s the kind of wine that can only be produced here, and only by growers who are able to fully trust noble Merlot to be its truest self.
Details
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Grape Variety
Cabernet Franc , Merlot , Other Regional Grapes , Red Blend
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Vintage
2021
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Size
750ml
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Farming Practice
Organic
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Style
Fruity
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Sweetness
Dry
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Body
Full Bodied