Ch. Alcee 2015 Castillon - Cotes de Bordeaux

In July 2011, Nicolas Thienpont bought three hectares in the Côtes de Castillon area. This new wine admirably reflects the finesse, class and minerality of these soils.Old vines 50+ years. Very dark crimson. Smells of little ripe wild berries. Hint of Cab Franc's more linear character even though it is only 5%. Good combo of dry minerality and sweet fruit.

VINIFICATION AND AGEING
Vatting: 24 to 28 days
Ageing time: 16 to 18 months
Barrels: 50% new wood, 50% one-year-old wood

SPECIFIC METHOD
The whole berries are placed in the vats (no pressing). The vats are temperature
controlled. Extraction by pumping over during the first fermentation. Malolactic
fermentation in barrels and in vats. Aging on fine lees to bring down the alcohol
content: first racking after 6-10 months (before the summer) and the second a year
later before bottling. Fining and filtering are done only if necessary.