2011 Canon-Fronsac

Canon Fronsac is an appellation on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, but this red does not taste like the Bordeaux most of us are accustomed to. First, the terroir here is rather atypical for the region: this pure Merlot is sourced from a limestone hillside rather than the clay and gravel plains that make up the majority of the Bordelais landscape. You may find it to be leaner and livelier than the rich, plush Merlots of Pomerol and Saint Emilion, while a subtle minerality provides a tense energy on the finish—undoubtedly the effect of poor, well-draining soils. The vignerons at Château Moulin also set this estate apart: Bénédicte and Grégoire Hubau are the type of small farmers we typically encounter in the Loire or Beaujolais, not Bordeaux. Adamant about organic viticulture, they make natural wines of purity and finesse that deliver loads of pleasure upon release. Forget any preconceptions about Bordeaux, and quaff away! –Anthony Lynch

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• Vintage 2011
• Bottle Size 750mL
• Blend Merlot
• Appellation Canon-Fronsac
• Country France
• Region Bordeaux
• Vineyard 3.5 ha
• Soil Clay, Limestone
• Winemaker Bénédicte & Grégoire Hubau
• Aging One-year élevage in 2- and 3-year-old barriques
• Farming Organic
• Alcohol 13.5%