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Despagne Entre-Deux-Mers 200Entre-Deux-Mers Garonne Dordogne Mascaret Basaline Despagne Thibault 5 300
Girolate Jancis Robinson Entre-Deux-Mers superstarGirolate Rouge 100% Merlot 10,000

AOCEntre-Deux-Mers

Merlot

Girolate “lieu-dit Despagne Naujan Postiac

(225)

(James Suckling’s rating: 91 points)

(Robert Parker’s rating: 91+ points)
2018 Girolate 2-3 15

Gouda

Despagne is a well-known wine producer established in Bordeaux, the northern part of the Entre-Deux-Mers, for more than 200 years. They are the passionate winegrowers huddled between2 rivers, Garonne and Dordogne. The name of Entre-Deux-Mers, comes from the influenceof the ocean which materializes by a wave : ” the Mascaret”.
Today the winery is run by Basaline Despagne and her winemaker brother, Thibault. It consists of 5 estates, around 300 hectares. Girolate, is regarded as“Entre-Deux-Mers superstar” by Jancis Robinson.

GirolateRouge not only producedfrom 100% old vine Merlot among the best terroirs in the Entre Deux Mers, the vines are also planted to a very high density of 10,000 vines hectare.

Appellation:
AOC Entre-Deux-Mers

Country of Origin:
Bordeaux, France

Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)

Grape Varieties:
Merlot

Terroir:
Girolate is the name of the “lieu-dit” where the family historically produces its best grapes in the village ofNaujan and Postiac.Small clay hillside above a limestone quarry made up of a massal selection of old vines.

Vinification:
Fermentation with full berries in new french oak 225L barrels and long further ageing for the finestintegration.

Tasting notes:
(James Suckling’s rating: 91 points)
Blackcurrant, plum, tar and spice box on the nose. Its full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Creamy and polished. Better from 2022.

(Robert Parker’s rating: 91+ points)
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Girolate bursts from the glass with notes of stewed red and black cherries, blackberry compote and sauted herbs with touches of cedar chest, tobacco leaf and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a very refreshing backbone cutting through all that oak-tinged red and black fruit with firm, grainy tannins and a lifted finish. Give it a good 2-3 years for the oak to settle and drink it over the next 15+ years.

Food Pairing:
Grilled red tuna in seasame oil, Bourguignon beef with fresh pasta, old Gouda cheese.