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Jean-Philippe Janoueix, Château Croix Mouton, Bordeaux Superieur, 2017
Ch. Croix Mouton is a wine that surpasses its appellation, which means that the quality is higher than one would expect. The estate is in hands of Jean-Philippe Janoueix, same owner as Ch. La Confession (St. Emilion) and Ch. La Croix St. Georges (Pomerol). Small returns (46hl/ha), cultivation of the soil, leaf removal, sorting out when harvesting, use of gravity when putting the grapes in the cuvees, elevation on new oak, etc… all those things contribute to top quality for a very reasonable price. Jean-Philippe Janoueix is a very precise person, which reflects in the quality of his wines. Do also read my comments on his newly bought chateau Cap Saint Georges (Saint Georges in St. Emilion), and his other wines mentioned above.
L’HETRE (Jacques Thienpont)
l'Hêtre 2016 is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and was aged for 15 months in oak barrels. It has a dark purple colour; fresh and sweet on the nose with a good expression of autumn fruits; on the attack the wine is firm and rich with good, ripe tannins and a round, silky structure; on the palate the wine is fresh and spicy.
Les Jamelles, Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre, Montagne Noire
Muscat Bollenberg, Camille Braun, Alsace
