Barthélémy 2022 Château Le Puy | Bordeaux

Château Le Puy 's cuvée Barthélémy is named after Barthélemy Amoreau (1844-1925), a major family figure who left his mark on the history of the wine estate through his writings on winemaking and his early reflection on the use of sulfur. Today, this long-standing questioning has found a concrete extension in the elaboration of this tribute cuvée, vinified without the addition of sulfur and classified as a Vin de France in order to preserve total freedom in technical choices. The wine comes from the historic Les Rocs parcel, just in front of the château, which has always been worked by the wine estate without the use of synthetic products. Here, the singular geological identity of this terroir on the Côte de Francs, east of Bordeaux, is of rare intensity: the clays are deeper and the limestone harder, giving rise to grapes of phenomenal natural concentration and great delicacy. The Merlot grapes are hand-harvested before undergoing a natural winemaking process involving fermentation and infusion on indigenous yeasts, with no inputs whatsoever. Ageing then lasts at least 24 months in experienced barrels, with a dynamization process timed to the phases of the moon, before bottling without fining, filtration or, of course, the addition of sulfur.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: Château Le Puy 's cuvée Barthélémy is the culmination of a long-standing debate on the role of sulfur in winemaking, initiated by the estate's namesake in the 19th^century . This is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious cuvées in the range, embodying both the Amoreau family's uncompromising philosophy of natural wines and the constant quest for precision and balance that characterizes the style of this great Bordeaux estate. Lovers of finesse and refinement be warned: an emotional tasting experience awaits you!

On the nose, the generous expression of ripe grapes and bright red fruit literally leaps out of the glass to fill the room with fragrance. An elegant floral dimension with accents of rose and dried flowers mingles with the crisp fruitiness, while delicate vegetal touches and the essence of resin emerge as the wine opens up. A first approach that touches the sublime and invites tasting!

On the palate, the complexity of the aromas blossoms on a divinely concentrated body, energized by astonishing freshness. Red and black berries combine with deep notes of potpourri and undergrowth. Silky tannins create a velvety texture that hugs the palate with its delicate texture. The pure finish is reminiscent of the great thrills of Bordeaux's finest crus, with the extra soul that characterizes great natural wines.