Château Hourtou - Côtes de Bourg Rouge 2015

In 1868, the French wine author Edouard Féret, mentioned Château Hourtou in his second edition of Bordeaux and its Wines. Since then, the estate has been one of the benchmarks for quality in the Côtes de Bourg. The château, located at the top of a gently sloping hillside, is a former manor that dates back to the 15th century. In 1985, it was purchased by the Castel family, who since, have completely revamped the vineyards and the cellar. The vineyards are on a hillside that drains to a local stream — the Margueritte — with chalky-clay soils that enjoy excellent exposure to the sun. The 27 hectares of vines are planted to 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec with an average age of 40 years, although there are some vines that are over 100 years old! The estate is a member of Terra Vitis, an association of winegrowers throughout France who practice sustainable farming, winemaking, business operations and development.

The 2015 Château Hourtou is a stunning example of the great quality and exceptional value Côtes de Bourg wines can achieve. In the glass, the wine sits a medium purple color with ruby highlights. The nose features aromas of red cassis, cherry and raspberry that leap out of the glass, combined with notes of fresh earth. On the palate, the Château Hourtou is soft and round with a luxurious mouthfeel and soft acidity. Flavors of fresh red plum and ripe cranberry are mixed with subtle notes of vanilla and cream that lead into an earthy and mineral finish with a touch of sour cherry. The polish and elegance of the wine is remarkable, both in its aromas and mouthfeel. This summer's perfect grilling Bordeaux, hands down!