Jean-Luc Thunevin let us have a few more
of one of my favorite 2005 petits
chateaux before the well ran dry.
These sold out fast a few months ago, but our
new supply has just docked. See what the buzz
is all about. All those thousands of taste
buds that fell in love can't be wrong.
You know that 2005 was the year in Bordeaux
that everything went right: The grapes
ripened flawlessly with no bloating or rot.
They are tight, little balls of blueish black
pungent juice. "The grapes were perfect!"
proclaims grower after grower, "I didn't have
to do a thing!"
Okay, so put the greatest vintage coming out
of Bordeaux with one of Bordeaux's top
winemakers: Jean-Luc Thunevin and you
shouldn't even have to read on, but if you
want to...
Here's the word on Chateau Puy Arnaud
Maureze: Jean-Marie Maureze asked Jean Luc
Thunevin to help him with his property in
Cotes de Castillon because Jean-Marie is
busy managing Dominus in California for
Christian Moueix, who also happens to own
Petrus. There are a barrelful of "buzz"
names in that last sentence - all of them
representing top-notch talent.
When Petrus and Dominus meet Chateau Puy
Arnaud Maureze, you know there will be a
brilliant end result. Throw Jean Luc Thunevin
into the cepage and you get an amazing
dark ruby liquid impeccably balanced between
tannin and fruit with terrific length. The
soil is clay-limestone. The vines are 30
years old. Jean-Luc Thunevin uses a judicious
amount of new oak (15%) to let the fruit be
fully expressed and the terroir shine
through.
Yes, that's Chateau Puy Arnaud Maureze. And,
it's one of the most stunning Bordeaux with
"everyday" pricing I've come across.
And you know all about Cotes de Castillon by
now. It's not surprising that this lovely
little beauty comes from there. Cotes de
Castillon represents the best of Bordeaux's
new frontier. It's the place I go to first
for extraordinary Bordeaux.
Cotes de Castillon has the same
clayey-limestone soil as St. Emilion -
virtually the same terroir. The land
just needed a dose of technology and know-how
and that has been provided for by the best in
the business.
Chateau Puy Arnaud Maureze is 100% Merlot.
This is an easy one.
Let's have a glass of Bordeaux tonight!
Cynthia Hurley
