Chateau Charmail

Haut-Médoc

Cru Bourgeois Supérieur

last update : Sunday 27 November 2011

This charming 19th century estate in St-Seurin de Cadourne (in the Haut-Médoc appellation, bordering on St-Estèphe, and a neighbor of Sociando-Mallet) was acquired by the present owner in 1980. An agricultural engineer from the Libourne area, Olivier Sèze does his utmost to reflect Charmail's terroir.

The 20 hectares of vines are in a single block.

The soil consists mainly of clay, which explains the high proportion of Merlot. Working in conjunction with his enologist friend, Michel Couasnon, Monsieur Sèze developed a cold fermentation technique in the 1990s that has since been copied by other château owners. This Burgundy-style pre-fermentation maceration process contributes color, depth, and richness to the wine.

Despite the fact that the grapes are machine harvested, vineyard operations are carried out with the greatest of care. The leaves are thinned on one side, green harvesting is done, and yields are kept fairly reasonable: about 48-50 hectoliters/hectare.

Château Charmail generally produces tasty wines with black fruit flavors and soft tannin that are quite enjoyable to drink young.

In the Bottle

Charmail offers an excellent quality/price ratio, making this one of the better deals in Bordeaux for well-informed consumers.

Frequently above average for its appellation, Château Charmail is one of the most dependable wines in the Haut-Médoc.

Charmail's wines are very attractive and bode very well with food.

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WINE PRODUCED BY THE ESTATE

Charmail, Tours de Charmail (second wine)

COMPARISON WITH AOC - HAUT-MÉDOC

Vintage	Absolute score	Relative score to the Appellation	Standard deviation

2009	90.0	100.4	2.09
2008	88.7	100.7	2.41
2007	88.2	100.9	1.33
2006	88.2	100.0	1.84
2005	85.0	99.4	4.27
2004	85.7	102.3	3.67
2003	87.8	103.9	3.8
2002	85.7	101.9	3.79
2001	84.3	101.9	3.57
2000	85.9	102.6	4.12
1999	83.3	101.0	2.2
1998	87.5	102.7	2.03
1997	90.0	106.6	6.05

TASTING NOTES

Alain Bringolf - 12/2006

Light, ruby-red color.
A rather unusual metallic bouquet to begin with going on to reveal more usual cocoa and licorice aromas after swirling in the glass.
Somewhat thin, angular body with bitter tannin. The fruit was obviously picked before reaching peak ripeness. Unharmonious acidity on the middle palate and lacks fruit on the finish. This is quite unusual given the vintage.
My guess is that the grapes were picked too early and that the winemaker added too much tartaric acid.
All in all, a disappointing wine.