'Canopée de Lapelletrie' Château Lapelletrie 2017

Chateau Lapelletrie introduces the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru "Canopée de Lapelletrie", a soft and spicy pure Merlot made with grapes from the estate's oldest parcel. The production philosophy embraced by the winery pursues the utmost respect for plants, fauna and the ecosystem in general, leading it to work in synergy with nature to guarantee expressive fidelity to the terroir. Chateau Lapelletrie is located in the small commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, a few kilometres east of Saint-Émilion.

Chateau Lapelletrie's "Canopée de Lapelletrie" is made with grapes harvested from vines about 75 years old cultivated according to organic farming principles, supplemented by biodynamic practices, on clay-limestone soils. The grapes are harvested by hand, subjected to double selection in the cellar and then mellowed for spontaneous alcoholic fermentation, accompanied by gentle extraction during maceration. Once the fermentation process is complete, the mass is transferred to French oak barrels, 1/3 of which are new, for ageing for 15 months, followed by a further period in the bottle before release.

In the glass, the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Chateu Lapelletrie "Canopée de Lapelletrie" displays an intense ruby red mantle. The olfactory mosaic is vivid and colourful, chiselled with fruity sensations of cassis, cherry and blackberry, enriched by balsamic notes of liquorice and eucalyptus and hints of sweet spices such as vanilla. To the palate it shows an exceptional balance between caressing softness, fresh balsamicity and delicate, silky tannins. The ample and dynamic finish recalls the fruity and spicy sensations on the nose. A fine Merlot of extraordinary longevity, to be paired with tasty red meat, game or venison dishes seasoned with various spices.