Chateau Damase Bordeaux Superieur 2015

Mostly Merlot, with 10% Carmenere and 5% Petit Verdot for color and structure. Unusually - at least at this price point - the wine ages entirely in new and 1 year-old oak casks for a year. The result is a richly fruit-filled Bordeaux - cherry, cassis, plum - with sophisticated accents of smoke, cedar, and herb. Almost California fruit levels, but plenty of Bordeaux class at the end.

Chateau Damase is an unusual estate because it is planted with 100% Merlot. The reason for this is because the soil is mainly composed of clay, and Merlot thrives in these conditions, while Cabernet prefers faster draining soils. The property is also home of Xavier Milhade, owner and chief winemaker. The viticultural techniques employed here are done with the same care and attention to detail as those practiced at classified estates in Saint-Emilion, with small modifications made to suit the terroir of Chateau Damase.