Tour des Gendres ‘Anthologia’

Product Description

TOUR DES GENDRES, Ribagnac Biodynamic
Luc de Conti is a wonderful character and one of the finest wine-maker of his generation, he feels passionately for his wines, his 54-ha vineyard and his Bergerac region.
Luc is looking for purity and intensity in his wines, relentlessly searching to reach the maximum potential of each vintage.
Viticulture is biodymanic, the soil is nourished with seaweed and silica treatments to encourage microbial activity. Yields are low, 5 to 6 grapes per vine, manual picking and selection of ripe and healthy grapes is essential; on the top cuvées there are several ‘tris’ in the vineyard, and the wine will only be released if it reaches the highest of standards. The blends will also change according to the physiological ripeness of the grapes.
In recent vintages, Luc’s wines are losing in extraction and gaining in tension, balance and tend to drink younger.

Anthologia cuvees are only produced on very best vintages. In 2000, the growing conditions in Bergerac were close to perfection. Luc de Conti has selected grapes grown on limestone slopes, with yields as low as 19 hl per ha. 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% each Malbec and Cabernet Franc. The grapes were fermented in large 500l barriques and the method of extraction used was quite unusual. The barriques were rolled over once a day for eight days. This method was soft and gentle with the grapes. The result is a wine with unbelievable finesse and lenght. The nose is pure, packed with fresh fruit and seeds, the palate is generous, muscular, yet refined and full of soft, ripe plum and black berries. The whole package is perfectly balanced.

“The Margaux of Bergerac” Andrew Jeffords, The new France