Château Moulin Saint-Georges Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2012

Pauline Vauthier confided that the secret for Ch. Moulin St Georges in 2012 was discretion. In the problematic harvest-time rains, the Cabernet Franc did not quite reach full maturity and required gentle guidance through vinification to avoid the extraction of any green (not fully ripe) tannins.

This was achieved through much gentler movement of the must during fermentation, with no pigeage (punching down) and much less déléstage (pumping all the wine over the cap). The key was an extended cold maceration before fermentation, to extract color and fruit but not tannins.

The resulting wine is spicy, balanced and cool but fruit-driven, offering an immediacy that will also repay up to five years in the bottle.