2017 Chateau Marie LaRose

The vast majority of Bordeaux wines today are nothing like the Bordeaux wines of yester-year. The influence of the New World, the Parker era, evolutions in viticulture to reach higher levels of ripeness, massive changes in winery technology, and multiple other factors have created a new generation and genre of Bordeaux wine. This new generation seeks less pyrazines, softer tannins, and lower anti-oxidants than the older products, with a prospect of earlier maturation and enjoyment.

Our original vision for Chateau Marie is stylistically something "heart of the Left Bank" like Pichon, Ducru, or Leoville (notwithstanding the First Growths of the area, of course), but also something less modern than today's versions of those wines, having a little more of the older-style pepper spice of the Cab Franc, but still achieving a higher level of ripeness for the Cabernet (which has become almost expected).

Our 2017 Chateau Marie represents this moderated paradigm, with remarkable Bordeaux-style aromatics and finish and noticeably present, but restrained, pyrazines. This wine underwent extra again at the winery, so it was already 4-years old by release in Spring of 2021, and we recommend holding a minimum of 5 more years for optimal enjoyment.

Chateau Maries generally peak between 6-9 years from the vintage date and thereafter continue to drink well for many years to come.