Deep ruby color; blackcurrant, dark cherry, blackberry, plum, tobacco, cocoa, black tea, earth, tar, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; grippy tannins, balancing acidity. Medium body. Blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 10% petit verdot. Aged 14 months in French oak barrels, 40% new, 35% one year, 25% two year. This is quality wine from, literally, the heart of Bordeaux. The winery and vineyard is surrounded by the Bordeaux suburbs. Just moving into its drinking window, could improve over the next decade or more. Consider decanting. 13.5% ABV
Isabelle and Paulin Calvert are owners of Château Picque Caillou. The Calvert family has deep roots in French winemaking. Jean-Marie Calvet founded Maison Calvet in Tain-L’Hermitage in the Rhône Valley in 1818. It expanded, and in 1849 Jean-Marie’s son, Octave, had a growing interest in Bordeaux and began building a network of wine merchants in the region. The firm set up its head office in Bordeaux in 1876. In the 1890s, Octave’s son, Jean, led expansion into Beaun in the Burgundy region.
In 1979, Joseph Helfrich started a wine production company, Les Grands Chais de France. The Helfrich family took over management of Calvert in 2007 with a commitment to keep it a family-operated enterprise. Today, Calvet produces wines from Bordeaux, Rhône, Burgundy, Loire, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, and Alsace. Calvet makes both still and sparkling wines. The company notes one bottle of a Calvet wine “is uncorked every three seconds in 140 countries around the world.”
Isabelle et Paulin Calvet Château Picque Caillou, Pessac-Léognan Contrôlée 2020 delivers delightful aromas, lots of tasty dark fruit, mineral notes in a tight, attractive package that can age for several more years. A smooth, savory wine that will go well with grilled and charred meats and vegetables. Pair with hearty beef dishes; beef wellington. Lamb. Wild game—venison, boar, wild turkey. Baked, broiled, barbecue chicken. Grilled vegetables. Cheese—hard cheeses; manchego, parmesan. $30-45
