Chateau Le Puy Duc des Nauves 2019

 Winemaker: Jean-Pierre and son Pascal Amoreau

Appellation: Right Bank Bordeaux, France

Grape Varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon

Duc des Nauves is certified biodynamic as of the 2015 vintage). Planted to 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the vineyard is situated on the same Asterie-limestone mother rock as those of Le Puy, but at a slightly lower altitude—80 meters above sea level compared to Le Puy’s 110 meters. The topsoil is slightly sandier and less clayey here, and it is a bit deeper than at Le Puy—between 1.0 and 1.3 meters. In the cellar, Duc des Nauves is both fermented (spontaneously, of course) and aged in cement, and bottled without filtration after one year. Certified organic.

The estate is situated on the same plateau as Saint Emilion and Pomerol and sits on the second highest point in the Gironde at 110 meters above sea level (approximately 350 feet).  The vineyards are planted to a number of red varieties, including Merlot (85%), Cabernet Sauvignon (6%), Cabernet Franc (7%) along with a touch of Malbec and Carmenère.  The exclusive white variety is Semillon.  The soil type varies but is principally a mix of clay, silex and limestone, with very high acidity levels.  The average age of the vines is 50 years and no synthetic treatments have ever been used at the estate, which is certified biodynamic. Harvest is manual, the grapes are entirely destemmed and the cuvaison is long, continuing for two to four weeks.  Only indigenous yeast is utilized, no chapitalisation is done nor is SO2 used during the fermentation.  The “elevage” of the Le Puy wines is done according to the lunar rhythm.  The two essential red cuvées of the estate, “Emilien” and “Barthelemy” are raised in barrel for 24 months.  The wines are neither fined nor filtered before bottling.  Jean-Pierre Amoreau and his son, Pascal, oversee the vineyards and vinification.