Château Charmail 2019

The 2019 vintage benefited from a hot, dry summer, interrupted by welcome rains in July and early September. At Château Charmail, vineyard management was meticulous, including soil cultivation, manual leaf removal, and green harvesting to control yields. These practices helped optimize the ripening process, ensuring that each vine was carefully tended to throughout the growing season. Additionally, Charmail’s commitment to sustainability was highlighted by adherence to High Environmental Value (HVE 3) standards, which focus on biodiversity and environmental responsibility. The combination of these efforts, along with the unique gravel and clay-limestone soils, resulted in a vintage marked by exceptional balance and concentration.

Harvest began on September 25th with Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot into October. The sunny days and cooler nights allowed the grapes to be picked at optimal ripeness. The team at Charmail worked carefully to ensure that each plot was harvested at the perfect moment, capturing the richness and complexity that the 2019 vintage promised.

In 2019, vinification focused on highlighting the intense fruit and fine tannins. The wine underwent a cold pre-fermentation maceration for 21 days, followed by a slow fermentation. Extraction was controlled to emphasize the purity of the fruit while maintaining balance. The result is a vintage that combines power and elegance, with layers of ripe berries and a refined structure.

The 2019 vintage saw 90% of the wine aged in 225L oak barrels, with 33% new oak, while 10% was aged in concrete egg-shaped vats. This combination allowed for a balanced integration of oak influence and freshness from the eggs, enhancing the wine’s depth and complexity without overpowering the fruit. The structured tannins promise longevity, making this a vintage that will continue to evolve beautifully over time.