Blackbird
France is home to nearly two-thirds of the world's total plantings of Merlot and represents 62% of all planted grapes in Bordeaux. The grape earned its moniker from the word "Merle", which in French is translated to blackbird, referencing either the eye-catching, dark, blue colour or the bird's fondness for the thin-skinned grape.
When blended, Merlot has a unique ability to tame and balance the strong tannins and structure found in the Cabernet Sauvignon. While Merlot wines tend to mature faster than Cabernet Sauvignon, the two are famously blended to develop in the bottle for decades.
Merlot deserves praise for toting the line between velvety plush fruit and warrior strength and power. This incredibly versatile grape can offer a wide array of flavours and aromas, unique to each terroir. The fruit notes commonly associated with Merlot include cassis, black and red cherries, blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, mulberry and plum. Vegetable and earthy notes include black and green olives, cola nut, bell pepper, fennel, hummus, leather, mushrooms, rhubarb and tobacco. Floral and herbal notes commonly associated with Merlot include green and black tea, eucalyptus, laurel, mint, oregano, pine, rosemary, sage, sarsaparilla and thyme. When Merlot has spent significant time in oak, the wine may show notes of caramel, chocolate, coconut, coffee bean, dill weed, mocha, molasses, smoke, vanilla and walnut.
Acquired by Stephan von Neipperg in late 1998, Château d’Aiguilhe is one of the finest and most beautiful vineyards in the Côtes de Castillon appellation, situated around the small town of Bourg-sur-Gironde a few kilometers east of Bordeaux, France.
The château's dignified ruins bear witness to a long and turbulent history. Formerly the heart of a fortified farm, the château dates from the 13th century. Located on the frontier between areas occupied by the French and English during the Hundred Years' War, the château had a major strategic role and changed allegiance regularly according to the political tendencies of the seigneur. Later on, the château belonged to the Albret family, then the Leberthons, who contributed several members of the Bordeaux parliament. Before emigrating on the eve of the French Revolution, the Leberthons sold the estate to a certain Etienne Martineau, who transformed it into a huge 400-hectare farm in a single block that stayed in his family until 1920.
Château D'Aiguilhe
Castillon - Côtes de Bordeaux 2016
85% Merlot 15% Cabernet Franc
$79.99 per bottle
Sustainable viticulture and a biodynamic approach characterize vineyard management hereby Stephan von Neipperg. The 2016 vintage in Côtes de Castillon produced wines with structure and age-ability. Cabernet Franc is blended alongside Merlot to add complex peppery flavours and a more dynamic finish
NOSE Gorgeous notes of dark currant, crushed plum, mint, vanilla bean and fresh violet.
TASTE Vigorous and fruity with big beautiful flavours of dark fruit and a touch of dark chocolate. This powerful wine reflects its terroir with intensity and panache.
PAIRING Hanger steak with chimichurri and pommes frites.
Count Stephan von Neipperg comes from a long family tree of generals and ambassadors who built their fortune by growing and producing exceptional wines. Today, the count is building his own wine empire in St.Emilion, where he owns four estates: Château Canon-La Gaffeliére, Clos de l'Oratoire, Peyreau and La Mondotte.
In just 20 years, Count Stephan von Neipperg has revived the vineyards and fortunes of Canon-la-Gaffelière in St-Emilion, and repeated the exercise for a handful of other properties in Bordeaux and now in Bulgaria, too.
Aiguilhe is his crown jewel. He restored parts of the ruinous castle, modernized the extensive cellars and farm buildings and replanted much of the vineyard. Since 2000, every Château D’Aiguilhe that von Neipperg released has scored 89 points or higher, a remarkable achievement for the appellation.
Check out our interview with the man himself!