Chateau Potensac

Originally owned by the Liquard family, Chateau Potensac is now under the Delon family after Paul Delon married the Liquard daughter. The property prospered because of this change in ownership, with the Delon family also owning other illustrious estates like Leoville-Las-Cases in St-Julien and Nenin in Pomerol.

Today it is under Jean-Hubert Delon, who had refurbished the chai with new stainless steel equipment. The vineyards are located in Ordonnac, under the Medoc appellation, comprising of three properties, including Potensac, Gallais-Bellevue and Lassalle.

The soil is alluvial gravel with some red clay, with the total vineyard area of 53 ha. Planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, at a density of 8000 vines per ha. Recent trend sees an increase in Merlot in the blend, with the 2005 vintage having 41% Merlot, versus 40% of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Yields are restricted to 35 hl/ha, the fruit is harvested by hand and is fermented in stainless steel and concrete vats, with 15-18 days of maceration. There is rigorous selection, with 40-45% going to the second wine La Chapelle de Potensac. The wine will be aged in 30% new oak barrels for up to 16 months, and the remaining in one-year barrel coming from Leoville-Las-Cases. It is then fined with egg white and bottled without filtration.

Typical production per year is 25000 cases. Although only a Cru Bourgeois, the estate often produces wines of classed growth quality. The wine is in general more classic, firmer and more structured, which needs time in cellar and best enjoyed with food.

I have recently tasted the 2000 vintage and below is my tasting note:

Acceptable quaAcceptable quality Medoc of medium ruby color, the wine has fair complexity but a bit lacking on the concentration, with the nose showing developing aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and dark plum, tar, savory, nutmeg, cedar, black tea. It has a fairly high acidity but without sufficient fruit to balance it out, making it a bit austere. The tannin is also a bit drying with a similarly lacklustre intensity in flavors, with blackberry, blackcurrant and dark plum, cedar, cinnamon and liquorice Having a reasonable finish, the wine is ready to drink now and in my opinion already past its best.