Chateau Croix de Mai Medoc 2020

	Oak-matured blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
	Seductive and full, with notes of ripe fruit, vanilla and mocha
	Impressive for its price range

Description
Even in an established wine region like Bordeaux, there are still young wineries to be discovered. Take Château Croix de Mai, owned by Cécile Reich-Courrian, for example.

Cécile herself, however, is anything but a newcomer to the Médoc. Her family has lived there for generations, and she herself has lived in Bégadan, where Croix de Mai is located, for twenty years. After a career in marketing and communications for a major négociant in Pauillac, she now makes her own wines from less than three hectares of vineyards.

Her largest plot is planted with 90% Merlot—a rarity on the Left Bank—and a tiny amount of Malbec and Petit Verdot. The other plot is entirely planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines have an average age of 55 years.

The optimally ripe grapes are hand-picked and thoroughly sorted again on the sorting table – only the finest quality is good enough. After fermentation, Cécile ages the vast majority of the wine for a year in new French oak barrels for a beautiful, full, smooth flavor. A small portion is aged in tank for freshness and fresh fruit notes.

These elements come together beautifully in the delightful Croix de Mai. A Bordeaux that seduces with ripe fruit, a lovely oaky note, and a full, smooth flavor, and makes a great impression considering its price.

And the May Cross depicted on the bottle? It's also located in front of the cellar and was long decorated with flowers and carried in processions to protect the surrounding vineyards. It seems to have retained its power.

Drinking at
A tempting, oak-aged red Bordeaux to savor on its own. Also delicious with chicken stir-fry with bacon and fennel, spicy bean casserole, pork loin with garlic and mashed potato, or aged hard cheeses.

Tasting note
A ruby-red wine with open aromas of cherry, plum, blackcurrant, vanilla, and tobacco. Full and juicy with ripe fruit, balanced acidity, and supple tannins. An elegant finish with notes of mocha and licorice.