Diane de Belgrave is the second wine of the estate. The name is a reminder of the links between the estate and the hunting: during the reign of Louis XV, the estate was a highly reputed hunting pavilion.
Benefiting from exactly the same care and attention as the first wine, with soft and fruity character, it is ready for immediate drinking.
Vintage
The cold and wet weather up until June and high summer temperatures, triggered pronounced inconsistencies between the grape varieties and regular, constant growth in the vegetation, keeping teams constantly active from May through to September :rigorous leaf plucking and targeted secondary shoot removal promoted air circulation around the bunches and optimised ripening, while constant vigilance was essential to keep the vineyard healthy and remove any uneven bunches.
Central to our success is a hands-on approach around the clock, coupled with severe harvest selection, both on the vine and in the winery - assisted by a new pendulum action destemmer, which preserves stalks whole and removes increased quantities of plant matter, for more efficient elimination of plant matter at the final manual sorting.
Tasting Note
Highly concentrated in appearance tinged with crimson. Charming bouquet develops complex aromas of fruit and spice with touches of mint and abundant freshness.
Initially supple on the palate, developing full-bodied and rounded character, with a silky mouthfeel and tannic structure. A well-balanced wine culminating in a lovely, long finish. A second wine retaining all the elegance of a Fine Wine.
By Frédéric Bonnaffous, Dourthe Estates Director
Grapes Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%, Cabernet Franc 2%, Petit Verdot 3%
