Clos Manou - Médoc Rouge 2016

In 1998, Françoise and Stéphane produced their first vintage from a meager 0.12 hectares of vines (that's 1,200 square meters, less than 1/3 of an acre), converting their garage into a makeshift winery to produce only 600 bottles! Fueled by their zeal to create handcrafted wines of the highest quality, they slowly grew their vineyard holdings and built their own winery, yet their commitment to the traditional, artisanal production of their wine has never waned.

As their estate blossomed, so did the reputation of their wines, which are now recognized as one of the best values in the Médoc. To grow an estate from such humble beginnings — and to achieve such high quality and acclaim in their wines — is almost unheard of in this part of Bordeaux. Since day one, their level of fanatical attention to detail and hands-on involvement in the estate has never wavered. To get this much wine at this price from such a pedigreed estate is ridiculous.

Presently, Clos Manou consists of 18 hectares of vines spread across different parcels of three distinct soil types in the Médoc: the classic deep gravel soils over clay, sandy-gravel and clay over limestone. Each soil type is farmed differently according to the particular needs of the site and the vintage. The estate also has parcels of pre-phylloxera Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines, some of the oldest to be found in Bordeaux! The 2016 Clos Manou is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc aged in 70% new French oak with the balance in a mix of second-use barrels and concrete eggs. In the glass, the wine pours a brilliant deep ruby color. The nose is intoxicating with enchanting aromas of ripe, fresh black currant, black cherry and plum combined with pipe tobacco and oak spice. On the palate, the Clos Manou exhibits wonderful freshness and finesse that is impeccably balanced by rich and firm tannins. Concentrated flavors of blackberries, cassis and red currant charge the palate leading into a long, vibrant finish with notes of leather, vanilla and allspice. Clean, classic and precise, this stunning wine is one of the most superb Médoc's I've tasted from the highly lauded 2016 vintage. Drink now or stash some away in your cellar to enjoy over the next 10+ years.