Chateau Massereau "Cuvée K" Bordeaux, France 2012

FROM UNGRAFTED SELECTIONS:

THE WINE: The Cuvée K 2009 from Massereau is balanced in a fantastic state of maturity. It is a blend from the estate’s organically farmed vines of Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Dark stone fruits, pitted cherries, and dried blueberries form the wine’s aromatic base, while lighter accents of orange peel and clove add a lifted dimension. The palate is rich, with plum, blackberry, black currants, with a smoky hint of loamy minerality. The wine shows great tannic strength, with a beam of mouthwatering acidity. The finish is long, with a tender sweetness of fresh red berries on the tongue that wraps up each sip. This is a must-buy for Bordeaux drinkers looking for exceptional quality at a great price! Pop a bottle this weekend, you’ll see what I mean.

THE PRODUCER: Château Massereau is located in Barsac, a village about an hour south of Bordeaux by car, and has been run by the Chaigneau family since 1999. Ann Marie, the matriarch, does the administrative work for the estate, while her sons, Phillippe and Jean Francois, split the day-to-day running of the property. It is Jean Francois who is in charge of the winemaking. Barsac is well-known for sweet wines, of which the Chaigneau’s produce a couple delicious examples. The 11 hectares belonging to the family are farmed organically, though not certified. In the cellar, the wines see zero additives, besides some bottlings receiving small doses of sulfur. Native yeasts are used for all fermentations. The family marches to the beat of their own drum, and you can taste the results in their incredible products.