Château des Annereaux 2018

Château des Annereaux is a classically styled, traditional expression of Right Bank Bordeaux.  This Lalande-de-Pomerol estate is owned by Domenique Hessel.  It is not his goal to create some overly woody, concentrated wine.  Domenique is a traditionalist, favoring a lighter and more fruit forward wine with plenty of ageing potential.  He is a staunch advocate for organic and environmentally friendly viticultural practices, and this ethos informs every single choice made at the estate.  Château des Annereaux has more than its fair share of fans, including the head Sommelier at the Élysée Palace, Virginie Routis, who stocks the cellars for French Presidents. This elegant wine is a tremendous value, and an insider’s find for those who enjoy the supple offerings of the Right Bank. 
 
Château des Annereaux has a long history, and any estate with such a lengthy legacy would have more than its share of ups and downs.  The property dates to the 14th Century, and the salmon colored Italian-styled manor was built in 1590.  It was named after Etienne Annereaux who founded the estate.  Generations of wealthy noblemen owned the property and there were many marriages into some of the most influential families within Bordeaux, including the Malescot family from Château Malescot Saint Exupéry in Margaux.  The estate was ravaged by the phylloxera crisis at the turn of the century, and Caroline Soehnée, the owner at the time, made the bold choice to graft the vines on property to phylloxera-resistant rootstocks from America.  Caroline was a leader in the fight against this parasitic wood louse that was decimating the vines in Bordeaux, and she published the results of her research.  The property experienced yet another setback during the devastating economic crisis of 1956 but was spared when half of it was sold to Jean Milhade, a negociant.  Eventually Dominique Hessel was able to purchase the estate in full and begin rehabilitating the vineyards.     
 
Dominique Hessel does not view organic viticulture as a passing trend.  For him, this is simply the way things need to be done to ensure the highest quality of fruit.  The vineyard at Château Annereaux is one 25-hectare parcel that is planted in one single block.  A mixture of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon vines thrive with minimal treatment.  Dominique believes in allowing them to do whatever they need to do naturally in order to produce his wines.  His minimalist intervention approach has served him well, and the estate obtained its Organic Certification in 2010.  This approach is not without its pitfalls, however.  In 2018, Dominique Hessel contacted President Emmanuel Macron about the ever changing climate because he almost lost his entire crop due to the erratic weather.  He received a response from Virginie Routis, the head Sommelier at Élysée Palace, who offered to taste his wines.  She was so impressed by the 2012 and 2015 vintages that she purchased several cases of them. Château de Annereaux is a great value, everyday drinking wine suited to please both classic and modern palates.

"The 2018 Des Annereaux is deep garnet-purple colored and a little closed, opening to reveal raspberry coulis, blackberry preserves and chocolate-covered cherries scents plus hints of wild thyme and lavender. Medium to full-bodied and understated, with lovely freshness and restraint, it has soft tannins and a mineral-tinged finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (4/23/2019, Bordeaux 2018 Issue), Rating: 90-92