2022 Chateau Martinat - Cotes de Bourg (750ml)

Our latest find. Amazing value here and another superb 2022!

Stéphane and Lucie Donze took over Château Martinat in 1994, reviving a property that had fallen into neglect in the commune of Lansac, at the heart of the Côtes de Bourg appellation near the Gironde estuary. Since then, the couple has worked to reveal the potential of their terroir, gradually earning the estate its current HVE 4 certification, the highest level of France's High Environmental Value program. Their proximity to the river gives the vineyard a mild, favorable climate, and their patient, hands on approach has turned Martinat into one of the appellation's more expressive addresses.

The estate farms around ten hectares in the center of the appellation, on a distinctive terroir marked by veins of small gravel running through red and brown clay, soils that support even ripening and give real density to the finished wines. Vines here average around forty years of age and are planted predominantly to Merlot, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec filling out the blend. Grapes are hand harvested and undergo about three weeks of fermentation in temperature controlled tanks before the wine is aged for fourteen months in oak barrels, then blended and bottled.

The 2022 shows a deep purple color with cedar, toasted spice, and nutshell notes layered over ripe dark berries. Dusty, structured tannins give the wine grip through the midpalate, finishing with a slightly chalky, drying edge that should soften nicely with a bit more time. It pairs well with grilled meats, braised beef, or a hard, aged sheep's milk cheese.