Winner: Vanqueur de la Coupe Du Médoc
Deep colour with ruby tints, oak and spice intermingle with ripe blackcurrent on the nose. The frank, velvety front of palate opens up to reveal a full and sensual mid-palate, beautifully balanced and superbly chewy, with rich aromatic expression. The equally harmonious finish confirms this wine's ageing potential. Another great achievement from this prestigious appellation.
The vineyard is situated on a hilly terrain of gravely soil with underlying calcareous clay. The vines are farmed by traditional means with yield control (leaf and bunch thinning). The vine plots are kept meticulously, the owner putting every effort into obtaining healthy, ripe grapes. Harvesting is both by hand and by machine (50 percent each) and the grapes are sorted at the winery. Vinification takes place under temperature control, with alcoholic and malolactic fermentation conducted in the traditional way but with the addition of some new techniques - cold maceration, concentration by means of reverse osmosis and micro-oxygenation. The wine is aged exclusively in French oak, one-third of the volume in new barrels, for one year.
Château Devise D'Ardilley was created in 1991. It has modern winemaking facilities and vine plots which have gradually been grouped together and replanted. The estate was bought in 2000 by Madeleine and Jacques Philippe, realising a personal dream. Born in the Bordeaux area, Madeleine wanted to return to her roots, while Philippe, a qualified engineer having pursued a career with a major services company, wanted to become a winegrower. Their dream became a reality and the wine obtained Cru Bourgeois status in the 2003 classification.
Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (45%), Petit Verdot (5%).
