Margaux Cuvée 3D 2007
Vintage 2007 was challenging for vignerons in the region and tested patience. Spring was damp, summer was cool and grey and there were heavy downpours in August. However, with the guiding hand of the patron saint of wine,Saint Vincent, the weather changed completely during September and October. The sun shone, the north wind blew and the ripening process was completed just in time. Harvest finished in late October, for those who dared wait, and the resulting wines are lighter in style than the 2005 and 2006 vintages and provide lovely short- to medium-term drinking.
Some of the best efforts from Régis have come from challenging vintages. Your lovely exclusive Margaux Cuvée 3D 2007 is made from a blend of hand-picked Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Merlot (30%) grapes, which were completely de-stemmed before undergoing a gentle temperature-controlled fermentation and maceration in stainless steel vats. The wine was then aged for 16 months in top-quality French oak barriques, 50% of which were new, the others ranging from one to three years old, imparting balance and complexity. Régis likes to use up to ten different types of barrique in the maturation and this certainly adds an additional layer of complexity to the wine. He aptly describes it as his ‘seasoning.’
Your 2007 Cuvée 3D is medium purple/ruby in colour and has an alluring roasted coffee bean and mocha fragrance. In the mouth it is fresh and elegant with juicy black plum fruit. The tannins are sweet and ripe and the finish is perfectly balanced, creamy and spicy and will continue to develop over the next seven to eight years. I recommend you try your 2007 with roast leg of lamb and gratin dauphinois for a lovely match – it also makes a perfect partner to roast rib of beef.
The 2007 was awarded a Bronze Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards and Commended at the International Wine Challenge last year.
Bordeaux Regional ‘Red Over £10’ Trophy-winner – Decanter World Wine Awards 2009