Castel Frères
Château Montlabert, La Croix de Montlabert
2022
About this winery
Castel Frères is the historic wine trading business created by Pierre Castel with his brothers and sisters in 1949. Over time, we have created a comprehensive range including not only brand leaders and successful innovations, but also châteaux wineries and grand cru wines. Third largest in the world market, Castel Frères is today "the most important place for French wine in the world" for professionals and consumers worldwide.
See the Castel Frères detail page for more information on this brand
Product notes
• 2022 is the first vintage to reach the rank of Grands Crus classés. • Since acquiring the property in 2008, the Castel family has focused all its attention on listening to and understanding the terroir, enabling them to define an oenological project based on a quest for sustainable excellence. • The design and construction of the new winery, inaugurated in 2020, are an extension of this commitment to enhancing the terroir and the estate. • Château Montlabert is tended like a garden, with a superb reception area. It includes 31% agroecological surfaces, including trees, hedges, beehives.
Production notes
Alternating between cap punching, rack and return and pumping over operations. • Post-fermentation extraction under marc for 7 days. • Extractions are controlled and gentle, in order to achieve buoyancy while retaining good substance. • Malolactic fermentation in 14 concrete vats. • Aged for 14 months: 1/3 in 2-wine barrels, 1/3 in 3-wine barrels, 1/3 in vats, with 5 differents coopers varying the toast (medium to hot).
Tasting notes
Carmine with garnet highlights. A fine classic from Saint-Émilion, combining freshness and complexity. Lovely red fruit, with minty and blackcurrant notes contributed by Cabernet Franc. Rich and ample attack, characteristic of Saint-Émilion’s clay soils. The subtle presence of oak adds complexity while allowing the fruit to take center stage.