Bordeaux Right Bank Hidden Gem
Maltus = Garagiste = World Class Wines
What is a Garagiste? It’s a Bordeaux winemaker, along the Right Bank, who produces only small amounts of wine, usually from single vineyards.
I’m going to let you in on Bordeaux BEST KEPT SECRET……. Pezat…. WHO????? Jonathan Maltus of Chateau Teyssier? Artistic winemaker of Le Dome?? Yes, that’s him. This is their entry level Rouge Bordeaux Superior. He is known as the rebel “garagiste” Jonathan studied engineering in the U.K. but also was a passionate wine lover. One day he said to himself - I want to make wines that respect and uniquely reflect the terroir while also breaking the rules of Bordeaux. He wanted to do something new, unique while keeping with tradition. So, he found himself shopping for vineyards, and wound up buying Chateau Teyssier as well as vineyards in Vignonet at southern limit of the St. Emilion which today amounts to about 30 hectares. An award winning winemaker leaving his mark and producing outstanding wines both in Saint Emilion and Napa Valley.
Pezat Bordeaux Superior 2016
These lovely grapes for the Bordeaux Superior are from the vineyard "La Plagnolle" in Saint-Emilion. Following cold maceration to extract color and flavor, the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wines are aged for 16 months with 20% in new oak.
I poured a glass and took 1 whiff (yes a big inhale) and all I smelled with the Right Bank….85% Merlot 15% Cabernet Franc makes up this harmonious blend.
Jeweled ruby color. Aromas of red plum, cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, pencil shavings, earthy, chocolate tomato leaf & leather. The acidity is balanced with the soft, claylike tannins that stick to your gums (that’s a good thing by the way). Generous supple fruit (red plum, cherry, blackberry), cedar, bramble, pencil shavings, leather, savory, bell pepper, vanilla, tobacco violet, finishes on ripe cherry tomatoes, licorice & mint. It has a nice rustic quality to it with a medium round body mouthfeel.
Now this cult following and rightfully so is so well integrated and smooth you won’t even notice the 14.5% abv - unless you have too much and when you stand up you’ll feel it 😂 It’s sleek, elegant in it’s smoothness and so well integrated with the concentrated fruits, you won’t be able to stop.
Start with an aged hard cheese plate? Yes. Grilled bison steaks? Yes. How about a Tuscan rosemary beef stew? Double Yes. This is the kind of wine I would 100% bring to someone’s house for dinner and a) they would think I spent $50 on the bottle and b) EVERYONE would fall in love with it, as I have.
