Château Hourtin-Ducasse - Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France (2019)

TASTING NOTES 

Sandalwood, a mix of crunchy and ripe red fruits, vanilla, cardamom, tobacco leaf and cloves. The tannins are quite present but medium grained. Youthful and needing just a little further time in bottle for best expression - or a short decant. Best 2024-26.

A family business through and through, Château Hourtin-Ducasse, located in Saint-Sauveur, on the very edge of Pauillac, was founded in the 18th century by Messrs Hourtin and Ducasse. 

Michel & Marie Noëlle Margengo acquired the property in 1976 and for more than 40 years have been taking care of it with their 7 children (all of whom have names beginning with M).

The property covers 25 hectares, including 18 hectares of vines, which are on average over 25 years old. They manage the vines using conservation agriculture, which borrows certain techniques from biodynamics or organic farming. This makes it possible to support plant growth by using the natural capacities of plants to treat the vines, to work the soil and to promote diversity between the rows.