Tour Peyronneau is situated on the right bank of Bordeaux just west of Saint-Émilion. Back in 2007 on an unforgettable trip through France’s great wine regions, my father and I strolled around on cobblestone streets amidst ancient architecture overlooking vast, rolling vineyards that were first cultivated by the Romans in the 2nd century. I felt like I had stepped back in time a thousand years—it was during this magical journey that I fell completely in love with Saint-Émilion. 

The traditional practices of winemaking here produce wines that should be balanced, elegant, age-worthy and forever appealing. Sadly, many producers are embracing more modern methods of winemaking that result in wines that are lacking in that traditional flavor profile. Luckily, there are still many producers, like today’s Pierrick Lavau, who refuse to craft wines simply for scores and who derive the purest example of the land possible without manipulation. My soul is calmed by honest wines like Pierrick’s—they speak clearly of terroir and are a textbook example of how wonderful traditionally crafted wines from Saint-Émilion can be.

 

Pierrick Lavau, the eighth-generation winemaker, owns and operates Tour Peyronneau as well as his sister property, Château Bernateau, with an eye toward tradition and quality. Today’s wine was derived from 32-year-old vines grown in hillside vineyards that predominantly consist of gravel, sand and clay. Pierrick farms organically and harvests by hand, which delivers pristine fruit with the unadulterated voice of classic terroir. Following de-stemming, the grapes are fermented with indigenous yeast in stainless steel for 28-36 days before the wine is aged for fourteen months in used French barriques. As you well know, I am constantly on the hunt for quality Bordeaux at affordable prices. This producer delivers that in spades and we are fortunate to have gotten our hands on a small amount of his wine once more. The 2012 Tour Peyronneau, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru offers layers of flavors and textures prevalent in Bordeaux reds at a much higher in price point. This theme of a wine that over-delivers for its price should be a familiar one by now, it is just the kind of wine I like to offer at SommSelect.

 

This right-bank Bordeaux exhibits a dark ruby core with ruby and garnet reflections on the rim. The nose enchants with classic aromas of red plums, dried red cherries, red and black currants and earth-driven notes of bay leaf, wet herbs, wild sage, cedar, tobacco, dried leather, a bit of cocoa nibs, over intricately integrated flavors of oak with a touch of baking spices. The medium-bodied palate offers velveteen tannins and lush, compact fruits that confirm this nose with additional notes of red and black plum over flavors of cedar, leather, pencil lead, bay leaf, dried herbs and cacao. While this wine has a long life ahead of it, probably peaking in 6-8 years,  it is absolutely stunning now. For immediate gratification, decant for 30 minutes and serve in large Bordeaux stems at roughly 65 degrees. Serve with a classic Filet or a simple leg of lamb on a crisp fall night and enjoy.