Château Le Gay 2013

Tasting characteristics and tips for Château Le Gay 2013

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a medium-depth ruby hue with bluish and red highlights.

Nose

The bouquet opens with lively aromas of crushed strawberry and red cherry, accompanied by subtle mineral notes reminiscent of cold stone. With aeration, the nose reveals fragrances of black plum and blackberry, lifted by hints of seaweed and black pepper.

Palate

The palate is medium-bodied, with fine, silky tannins. The attack is supple and juicy, revealing remarkable purity. The mid-palate expresses flavors of fresh red fruits, supported by an elegant texture and ripe tannins that bring structure and spice. The finish, less tannic and powerful than in recent vintages, lingers with finesse on notes of red fruit and spices, alongside a saline touch and subtle nuances of nutmeg, vanilla, and smoke.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with red and white meats such as veal, pork, beef, and lamb. It also goes very well with duck, game, roasted poultry, as well as braised or grilled dishes. Mushroom-based preparations make for a particularly harmonious match. This Pomerol can also elevate fuller-flavored fish such as tuna or certain Asian dishes.

Serving and cellaring

Château Le Gay 2013 is best served at a temperature of 15.5°C. Young bottles can benefit from 2 to 3 hours of decanting to fully reveal their aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed until around 2028.

An elegant, expressive Pomerol from a demanding vintage

The estate

Established in the 18th century on the prestigious Pomerol plateau in Bordeaux, Château Le Gay spans 12 hectares of clay-gravel soils. Owned by the Parent family since 2013, the estate is run by Henri Parent, alongside Florian Pesquier as winemaker and consultants Michel Rolland and Mikaël Laizet. The vineyard, planted with 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, stands out for its fully barrel-based, sub-parcel vinification and aging in new barrels.

The vineyard

The vineyard covers around 10.5 hectares to the north of the Pomerol plateau, in the hamlet of Pignon, in the immediate vicinity of Château Lafleur and Château Pétrus. The soils are composed of clay, gravel, and iron oxides, a classic composition of the Pomerol plateau that favors the expression of Merlot. The vines average around fifty years of age, ensuring controlled yields and optimal grape concentration.

The vintage

The 2013 vintage in Bordeaux proved particularly demanding for winegrowers, marked by unstable weather conditions and uneven grape ripening. This challenging year required rigorous selection and precise winemaking decisions. The most talented producers were able to work within these constraints by favoring finesse and balance over power.

Winemaking and aging

Château Le Gay 2013 was crafted according to a winemaking philosophy that respects the vintage, favoring measured extraction to preserve the wine’s balance. The grapes underwent a cold soak for 5 to 7 days at 10-12°C before fermentation. After fermentation, the wine rested for three months on malolactic fermentation lees. Parcel-by-parcel vinification in new barrels allows the singularity of each area of the vineyard to be expressed. Aging took place over 18 months in new French oak barrels.

Grape varieties

Merlot (90%)
Cabernet Franc (10%)