Château Clarisse, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion 2013, Bordeaux, France

Located in Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, Château Clarisse combines the perfect “terroir” with an ideal climate. The vineyard covers an area of 15.5 hectares (with 1 hectare of wood). Situated on the famous Saint Emilion Plateau, at 108m high, the property benefits from the best land in the area and from a well-drained clay-limestone and clay-siliceous soil. The vineyard has an average age of 25 to 30 years old, 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The name ‘Puisseguin’ comes from the word ‘puy’, meaning “mount” or “hill”, and from Lord Seguin, a lieutenant of Charlemagne who chose the strategic location to settle and build an imposing castle. Puisseguin is one of the highest areas in the Gironde region. The town is located to the northeast of Saint-Emilion, overlooking the Barbanne valley. Its southern exposure is exceptional, as well as its clay-limestone soil. Also present are certain zones of gravelly alluvial deposit. The microclimate brings mild winters, hot summers and sunny conditions in spring and fall. The exceptional conditions at the vineyard allow the grapes to be picked when they have fully ripened. Production: Wine-making with whole fruits (no treading), fermentation in thermo-regulated cement vats, in small quantities for parcel selection. Maturing: In new barriques (10 %) and in year-old barriques (90 %).