Château Moulin Riche, Saint-Julien
Vintage: 2017
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | MR101A17 | 12 x 75 | Natural Cork | Contact Us |
Producer
Previously the second wine of Second Growth Château Léoville Poyferré, Château Moulin Riche became an independent Saint-Julien estate in 2009, though it remains under the same ownership. The estate was bought alongside Château Léoville Poyferré in 1920 by the Cuvelier family, who apply the same rigorous standards across all their properties. The chief oenologist of Léoville Poyferré, Isabelle Davin, is also responsible for making the wines of Château Moulin Riche.
The estate comprises 22 hectares of vines in Saint-Julien, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Due to receive organic certification from the 2024 vintage, their sustainably farmed vines have an average age of 25 years and are planted on Garonne gravel and aeolian soils. The grapes are hand-picked before undergoing a rigorous sorting process, first by hand in the vineyard, then again at the winery using a state-of-the-art optical sorting machine. This ensures that only perfectly ripe and healthy grapes are vinified.
Each plot is harvested and fermented separately in stainless-steel vats before ageing for 18-20 months in a combination of new and second-use French oak barrels. The resulting wine has an opulent fruit character with ripe tannins and a spicy complexity on the palate.
‘M de Moulin Riche’ is Château Moulin Riche's second wine designed for earlier drinking. This blend of Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is sourced from younger vines within the estate. After fermentation, the wine is aged for six months in two-year-old French oak barrels, creating a lively, fruit-forward classic Bordeaux with notes of black fruits and cedar, fresh acidity, and structured tannins.
Vineyards
Located in the Saint-Julien appellation, Château Moulin Riche covers 22 hectares. The vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot on soils of Garonne gravels and aeolian sands. Vineyard management techniques are performed by hand to ensure each vine is carefully tended to. The Château also focuses on sustainable viticulture reducing the use of machinery and chemical sprays so fruit retains its varietal characteristics while displaying a great sense of place.
Vintage
2017 is known as the year of the frost, luckily vineyards in Saint-Julien were largely unaffected. Winter was slightly warmer than average, and the conditions were balmy until a large drop in temperature in late April. May brought sunshine and warmth, and the summer months remained warm until August. The cooler weather allowed the grapes to maintain their acidity and bright aromatics. Early September saw some rains prior to harvest which gave the vines a boost to complete the final stages of ripening.
Vinification
The grapes were hand harvested into small crates. Once at the winery, the fruit was sorted carefully by hand on sorting tables. The berries were then destemmed and further sorted by an optical sorting machine removing any damaged or diseased berries. The fruit was then crushed. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats with each plot being vinified separately. Once fermentation was complete, the wine was aged in a combination of new and second use oak barrels, for 18-20 months.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
The wine is very aromatic with a nose of ripe black cherries and violets. The palate is smooth with ripe tannins and opulent fruit, which continues through to the finish. The use of both old and new oak adds a spicy complexity to the palate.
Alcohol (ABV)
13%
Acidity
5.1 g/l
Residual Sugar
0.3 g/l
pH
3.71
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Château Moulin Riche | `M de Moulin Riche` Saint-Julien | MR102 | R | Factsheet |