Château La Pensée - Lalande-de-Pomerol 2014

Château Maréchaux — located just outside the village of Savignac de l’Isle — is a third-generation estate led by Julien Mingot. The 22-hectare property produces wines in both the Bordeaux AOC and the Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC. Marechaux’s vineyards are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc for the reds and Sauvignon Blanc and Gris for the whites. Vines are sustainably farmed (HVE Level 3 since 2019) in exceptional, sandy-clay soils. Julien crafts wines with pure fruit expression and elegance with a guiding principle of love for the land and the grapes it produces.

Château La Pensée is the name of the Merlot vineyard — just shy of two hectares — from which its namesake wine is produced. Julien, who represents the third generation of winegrowers of Château Maréchaux, incorporated this vineyard into the Mingot's family's estate, thereby fulfilling their long-held aspiration to produce a wine from Lalande-de-Pomerol. The region, located just north of Pomerol, is one of the most highly-respected historical appellations of Bordeaux's right bank. La Pensée's soil is composed of sandy, calcareous soil, which helps in the crafting of elegant and full-bodied wines.

The 2014 Château La Pensée, composed of 100% Merlot, pours a gorgeous, deep garnet. Elegant aromas of cassis and blackberry waft from the glass, kissed with touches of violet, spice and vanilla. This wine shows great vitality on the palate with an impeccable freshness of fruit, a rich, full mid-palate and suave, seductive tannins. The finish is soft, sensuous and minutes long. With his Château La Pensée, Julien is delivering Merlot at its finest. A no-brainer for any cut of steak, though this beautiful Bordeaux can be enjoyed with just about anything off the grill.