Château Godeau 2008
The northern accent
Fiche Technique
Bon de Commande
Surface area : 7 hectares (17 acres)
Density of plantation: 6,000 vines per hectare
Average of the vines : 35 years
Terroir : brown soil and limestone slopes with a sandy-clay texture
Grape composition : 95 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc
Vinification : in smalled-sizeed temperature-controlled stainless steel vats using manual pigeages. Vinified for 4 weeks and with malo-lactic fermentation in barrel.
Ageing : the totality in barrels, a third of which were new, for 12 months
Yield: 35 hectolitre per hectare
Harvesting dates : from 14th to 18th October
Alcoholic degree : 13,5
Weather conditions
After a lot of concern caused by a very wet spring, which made it hard to work the soils, and by a cool, rainy summer, which delayed the veraison, hope was finally restored with wonderful late-summer weather. Harvesting dates were delayed to wait for the grapes to reach full ripeness. The weather remained nice until the picking, enabling fresh, aromatic grapes with superb balance to be brought in.
The year had been tricky and stessful, but the final result was not in doubt !
Tasting comments
The colour is clean, clear and brillant with a crimsom hue and bright glints.
Quite closed on the nose at first, the wine displays a more southern European character with aromas of spice (cumin and paprika) mingling with subtle notes of cooked white meat. Once the wine has opened out, a more complex aromatic palette is revealed, expressing a combination of fresh tobacco leaves, cloves, and fresh mushrooms. The palate is superb, well-structured and underpinned by clean acidity. The oak flavours are already totally integrated, leaving centre-stage to elegant ripe and succulent fruit.
Dense and suave on the mid-palate, the finish is tight and underpinned by firm but stylish tannins.
Ratings in the media
* ‘‘Guide Hachette des Vins 2012’’
15,25 Jean-Marc Quarin
