Chateau Moulin Pey-Labrie

In the glass

Aroma: cherry blossom, fresh lavender, cherry compote, pencil lead, leaf tobacco

Palate: bright bing cherry, blackberry, blueberry, chocolate raspberry, espresso bean, forest floor

The benchmark Canon-Fronsac red from 6.75 hectares of 65-year-average-age vines, farmed biodynamically and organically. Merlot with 5% Malbec produces a fragrant, perfumed wine with remarkable freshness for the Right Bank.

What it pairs with

• Rabbit rillettes with cornichons
  The wine's bright cherry and fresh acidity complement the mild gaminess of rabbit; herbs echo the lavender note.
• Roasted guinea fowl with wild mushrooms
  Forest floor and earthy mushroom flavours in the wine match the rustic richness of the bird.
• Lamb and aubergine gratin
  Merlot fruit holds up to slow-cooked lamb; the wine's bright acidity lifts the richness of the gratin.
• Boeuf aux carottes
  A classic bistro red-wine braise that matches the wine's aromatic freshness and round tannins.

History

Gregoire and Chantal Hubau, a chemist and computer scientist by training, purchased the estate in 1988 with no prior winemaking background and engaged Michel Rolland as consultant. They adopted 100% biodynamic farming, which resulted in Ecocert organic certification. The estate now encompasses 6.75 hectares of Canon-Fronsac plus the separately labelled Chateau Haut-Lariveau (Fronsac) and Chateau des Combes Canon (Canon-Fronsac).

1. 1988 — Hubau family acquires estate; Michel Rolland engaged as consultant
2. 1990 — Chateau Haut-Lariveau parcel acquired
3. 2005 — Ecocert organic certification obtained

Facts

Producer

Chateau Moulin Pey-Labrie

Grapes

Merlot (95%), Malbec (5%)

Classification

Canon-Fronsac AOC

Oak

18 months in 33% new French oak barrels; malolactic fermentation in barrel

ABV

13.5%

Production

36,000 bottles

Price

€25-50 at retail

Drinking window

4-15 from vintage

First vintage

1988

Biodynamic

Biodynamic Practicing

Organic

ECOCERT

Scores

• Wine Advocate 92 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
• Decanter 91 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2021)

Tags