# Château La Fleur de Boüard (2018)

- **Producer:** Château La Fleur de Boüard
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €39
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackcurrant, plum, blueberry, violet, cherry, blackberry, liquorice, chocolate, cloves, coffee, toast, cedar, leather, tobacco, forest floor

## About this wine

Acquired in 1998 by Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, co-owner of Château Angélus, Château La Fleur de Boüard is situated in Néac within the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation. Driven by a belief in the exceptional potential of Néac's gravel and clay soils, the estate was transformed to produce wines matching the quality of top Right Bank growths. The 2018 vintage benefited from a damp spring followed by an exceptionally dry, sun-drenched summer, yielding highly concentrated berries with remarkable depth.

## Interesting facts

- The estate features a gravity-fed winery with 28 inverted conical stainless steel tanks suspended from the ceiling.
- Owner Hubert de Boüard de Laforest is also the former winemaker and co-owner of Château Angélus.
- Winemaking utilizes gravity-driven rack-and-return (délastage) without mechanical pump-overs to protect grape integrity.

## Food pairing

This full-bodied Bordeaux red pairs brilliantly with rich proteins and umami-driven dishes. Its bold tannins are softened by the fats and proteins in red meat and lamb, while its vibrant fruit acidity balances rich reductions and aged cheeses.

## Wine making process

Harvested by hand, the grapes undergo pre-fermentation cold soaking at 8–10°C before fermenting with native yeasts. Vinification takes place in a state-of-the-art gravity-fed cellar featuring 28 inverted conical stainless steel tanks suspended above the floor, eliminating mechanical pumping. Aging continues for 15 to 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new and 50% one-year-old) from premier Bordeaux and Burgundy coopers, followed by bottling without fining or filtration.