Julie and Xavier Gonet-Médeville are, in many ways, the first couple of French wines. Both hail from storied winemaking families: Julie’s family is famous for its incomparable Chateau Gilette, and Xavier comes from a long line of Champagne growers in Le Mesnil. Leading a new generation of winemakers, they bring their family knowledge, methods and passion to the many wines they now make together.In 2009, Julie and Xavier purchased Monplaisir, which consists of two parcels: one planted on silt below Château d’Issan, the other planted on gravel and clay below Château Margaux. Made of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, this pleasing cuvée is aged primarily in tank, with only 10% aging in cask.Monplaisir is a Bordeaux Superieur adjacent to the appellation of Margaux. It is this proximity the prestigious appellation that makes this wine a great value for the money — a rare find in Bordeaux.
Gonet-Medeville Cru Monplaisir Bordeaux Superieur
$22.99
Description
Bordeaux Superieur is an appellation tier applied to wines made within the generic Bordeaux AOP zone. They are produced from the classic Bordeaux grape varieties. The reds are, as their name implies, intended to be a slightly “superior” form of standard Bordeaux AOC wines. They therefore rely heavily on Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Cabernet franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. A few wines might feature Bordeaux’s “lost child”, Carmenere. Only two French wine regions have adopted the concept of having a “superior” tier for their appellations. The other is Beaujolais. The concept is much more widely taken up in Italy, where many DOCs have a superiore form of their wine (e.g Valtellina Superiore).
