12.5% abv, Famille Amoreau, Saint Chibard, imported by Rosenthal Wine Merchants, New York, NY. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: root day.
Winemaking notes: 85% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Malbec & 1% Caménère. Red clay and limestone soils similar to Saint-Émilion plateau, 50-year-old vines, hand-harvested, natural yeast, aged on lees for 24 months, twelve months in large oak vats, and twelve months in small French oak barrels (no new oak–all neutral wood). Only minor sulfur is used during the racking of the wine (an overall exception to the Château’s philosophy.)
Tasting note: the ‘Emilien’ is medium tawny in color with a clean nose of medium intensity with aromas of rose petals, raspberry, toasted chestnut, red cherry, and tomato leaf. On the palate this wine is dry with medium+ acid, medium tannin, medium body, medium+ flavor intensity and a medium+ finish with flavors of rosehip, raspberry, Rainer cherry, graphite, thyme, sage, eucalyptus and mint. Drink now or through 2025, this wine is very good: 9.2/10.
