Chateau La Pirouette AOC Medoc Cru Bourgeois, 2016

2016 La Pirouette has developed some nice tertiary notes, with earthy farmyard characters laid over a ripe berry fruit background. It has a classic structure, revealing a relatively light mid-palate that is smooth and slightly grainy in texture. Perfectly ready for drinking now and over the next few years, this Cru Bourgeois at Jau-Dignac-et-Loirac was established by Michele Roux’s family in the late 1970s. Michele farms 33 hectares of vines; her other passion is horses, which we see prominently featured on the label. The blend at 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot has a relatively high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon this far north in the region, a reflection of the estate’s gravelly soils.