Chateau Maine Blanc, Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux

Description

Chateau  Maine Blanc is a red Bordeaux wine from the Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux (or Cotes de Bordeaux Blaye depending on where you look) appellation which is located on the right bank of the River Gironde. It surrounds the slightly better known Cotes de Bourg. It was previously known as Premieres Cotes de Blaye.

Chateau Maine Blanc is located near the village of Cars which is located approximately 4 or 5 kilometres to the east of the town of Blaye. The wine is produced by Vignobles Chety & Fils. The Chety family have been farming grapes in the area since 1803. Brothers Olivier and Emmanuel run the estate. They also produce other wines including Ch. Haut Colombier and Ch. du Grand Pierre.

The vineyards are located on clayey-calcareous soils and cover some 5 hectares. They are planted with 85% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with an average vine age of 30 years old. The vineyard is certified organic with the use of green, cereal-based fertilisers, and organic and phytotherapy treatments for the vines. In the vineyard they do some de-leafing in June and a green harvest in mid-July. The harvest is done at dawn, with a manual sorting, to ensure that the grapes arrive at the winery cool and in the best condition.

After harvest the grapes undergo a period of cold maceration followed by traditional vinification in concrete vats with regular pumping over. The wine is aged in a combination of vats and second and third fill barrels.

Certified organic wine.