Château TIRECUL LA GRAVIERE - Cuvée Madame 2015
Château Tirecul La Gravière is located in the Monbazillac appellation, in the south-west of France. This estate was created in 1992, when Bruno and Claudie Bilancini decided to rent 9 hectares of one of the region's flagship vineyards, the "Vignobles de Tirecul", a site historically considered one of the region's Premiers Crus. Bruno, an oenologist by training, previously worked at the local cooperative. They bought the 400-year-old estate five years later and now have 16 hectares of vines. The estate's production revolves around four main wines produced most years, a dry white in IGP Périgord called Cuvée Andrea and three sweet wines from the Monbazillac appellation. Also produced are limited quantities of red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and sparkling wines. The estate uses a high proportion of Muscadelle in its wines. Bruno Bilancini claims that the quality of Muscadelle de Monbazillac is superior to that found in Bordeaux, because the Monbazillac vine stock is largely virus-free. The couple have always cultivated using environmentally friendly methods, deciding to adopt organic farming in 2009 and obtaining certification for all their vineyards from 2012.
The Madame 2015 cuvée is a blend of Muscadelle (around 60%) and Sémillon whose grapes are affected by noble rot . Fermentation takes place in barrels, then aging lasts about 24 months in French oak barrels. 2015 is considered an " exceptional vintage " in Monbazillac, the wine can be kept until 2035.
Grapes: Semillon, Muscadelle