Chateau Moulin Pey-Labrie

Bénédicte and Grégoire Hubau bought this 6.5 hectare estate in 1988. It is planted 99% in Merlot and 1% in Malbec. They had run large-scale agricultural enterprises and wanted to work as artisans, with a hands-on approach. As wine lovers, what appealed to them about Château Moulin-Pey-Labrie was the site itself, on a rather steep chalk hillside, the age of the vines, and the absence of clones. The vines are on average 60 years old but range from 40 to 120-years-old. The Malbec is 75 years old and that little 1% adds just a tiny bit of spice. Most importantly, all the vines are selection masale; no one has planted clones, and only the original vine stock has been used over several generations. Clones increasingly are used throughout the world and tend toward monotone expressions of sites and grape varieties. Pey Labrie’s use of only original vine stock gives an originality and complexity to their wine. Harvesting is by hand, using small cases, and the vinifications are long, slow and natural.

Wines

• Chateau Moulin Canon Fronsac 2008
• Chateau Moulin Pey-Labrie Canon Fronsac 2005