Montravel

The Montravel Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) comes above all from an exceptional terroir, recognized since the creation of the first AOCs in 1936.

The hillsides that make up most of the Montravel AOC terroir extend eastward from those of Saint-Emilion and Côtes de Castillon. To the west, they mark the entrance to the Bergerac vineyards. These foothills of the Périgord Pourpre also mark the boundary between oceanic and continental climates. It is here, at Montravel, that the tidal bore, a wave that rolls up the Dordogne River with each tide, comes to an end.

Covering nearly 2,000 hectares, the clay-limestone hillsides of Montravel are very favorable for red grape varieties: Merlot, which is widely dominant on these clay soils, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, planted at high density (minimum 5,000 vines/hectare), express in their blend all the complexity of this great terroir, recognized as AOC Montravel red since the 2001 vintage. While this first AOC of the 21st century is exemplary in terms of its strict production conditions and its resolutely "terroir" positioning, it is also quite unique in terms of wine approval. It is in fact the first French AOC for still wine to be tasted for approval of each vintage after final bottling. This pioneering method guarantees consumers perfect traceability and places Montravel at the forefront of AOCs of excellence.

The color of Montravel red wine is deep and intense. The nose, with notes of black fruit and very subtle roasted aromas, evolves over time towards truffle and undergrowth notes. The palate is both powerful and elegant, with ripe tannins and remarkable finesse. While Montravel red wine can be enjoyed in its early years for its freshness and fruitiness, it is a classy, high-quality wine after a few years of aging, such as that offered by Château Moulin Caresse.