Chateau Haut-Musset Lalande-De-Pomerol 2015

Haut Musset is one of the up-and-coming Bordeaux properties you’d be wise to keep an eye on. A small estate of ten acres, it’s run by husband-and-wife team Veronique Abbadie and Jerome Aguirre. Veronique’s grandfather planted the vineyard. This dynamic duo met while studying enology and viticulture at the University of Bordeaux and shared a Basque heritage which helped to cement their relationship. Jerome became the winemaker at several small, top-notch Pomerol estates including Le Gay and La Violette, where he fashioned many critically acclaimed wines. He has since moved on to making wine in St. Emilion at Tour Sainte Christophe, which has become a darling amongst Bordeaux aficionados for its quality-to-price-ratio.

Jerome is one of Bordeaux’s hot commodities and this is his personal, family property. The 2015 Haut Musset Lalande-de-Pomerol is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon with candied aromas of blackberry and crème de cassis. Succulent tannins and spice notes deftly meld with berry fruit, milk chocolate and earth notes. A hallmark of the 2015 vintage is the fine, silky tannins. This wine is so smooth and long, it drinks easily right now. Pair this beauty with a filet mignon or lamb shank.