2020 Cuve 8a – Ultra limited edition with screw cap!
2020 Cuve 8a – Ultra limited edition with screw cap!
Our iconic 2020 Cuve 8a may be sold out, but you can still experience it in a bold, innovative way. This ultra-limited edition comes with a screw cap, offering both modern convenience and exceptional preservation. A true collector’s item for wine enthusiasts!
As a reminder, the 2020 vintage has been hailed as 'truly exceptional, highly unique, and utterly spectacular,' according to Colin Hay, ranking among the finest ever produced at Château Canon Chaigneau.
Thierry Garnaud, renowned for his 38 vintages at Château Cheval Blanc, ventured into something new with this cuvée. He aimed to showcase a pure expression of our unique terroir, offering a more modern, approachable wine—crafted without oak—perfect for everyday enjoyment, all without the premium price tag.
The name '8a' comes from the specific tank in our chai where this wine is meticulously crafted, but also holds a special symbolic significance for our family (for those who know!). Sourced from slightly younger vines and matured exclusively in concrete, it’s designed to be enjoyed sooner than its ‘grand vin’ counterpart. This isn’t a second wine, but rather a distinct cuvée with its own identity and charm
Tasting Notes:
Mellow, ripe and enveloping, with a fresh spine that gives the wine vigour and balance.
Wine Profile:
Fruitness: 4/5
(1 = Earthy, 5 = Fruity)
Body: 3/5
(1 = Light Body, 5 = Heavy Body)
Aroma:
Black Fruit
Coffee
Tapenade
Food Pairing:
Grilled Salmon with Red Wine and Shallot Glaze, Roasted Chicken with Herbs and Red Wine Jus, Ratatouille with Fresh Basil, Pork Tenderloin with Plum Sauce, Cheese and Charcuterie Board with Berry Compote
- ‘.. has more lift and certainly more complexity on the nose compared to the regular bottling. Slightly more tertiary in style, savory perhaps. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, black olive and tinged black fruit that define its saline finish. This is an excellent Lalande-de-Pomerol that is worth hunting down’
Neal Martin, 91
- ‘.. Full-bodied with light herbal notes, cool spices and a nice freshness. Aged exclusively on concrete and no barrels! Atypical but exciting right-bank expression more elegant with a nice long finish.’
Thomas Rydberg (Din Vinguide), 91
- ‘A medium-bodied red with ripe and mellow dark fruits, firm tannins and hints of dark spices and walnut. Fine tannins and polished texture. Chalky finish.‘
James Suckling, 91
- ‘A well-located estate on the plateau of Néac in Lalande. The previous owners sold mainly in bulk but under new owner Romik Arconian this is changing to 100% in bottle. You get the clear spice and chewy tannins of the Malbec, even with this tiny amount in the blend. Savoury spice on the finish also, and the tannins are rustic right now, although will smooth over ageing. Unoaked (aged in cement vats only, hence the name) - unusual in Lalande, gives an appealing, unfussy feel'
Jane Anson, 89
- ‘This is bigger and richer on the nose…– with a lovely half-roasted coffee bean element alongside the wild herbs, cracked black peppercorns, cassis, dark berry and stone fruit. It is deeper and glossier too, more opulent, more dense and compact… fine-grained tannins … impressive length and sense of focused precision…. saline-ferrous minerality… rapid progression in the precision of the wine-making and the quality of the tannin management.'
Colin Hay, 90-92+
Gold Medal Concours Terre de vins.
"Dive into Lalande-de-Pomerol’s exceptional 2020 vintage with our Cuve 8a. Made with younger vineyards and no oak, it’s a pure expression of the fruit and balance of a wonderful year."
A Unique Terroir
The Néac plateau. One of the finest wines of the appellation, and one of the best value wines in France - medium bodied, not over extracted, complex, suave & extremely drinkable, typically with notes of truffle, black fruits, spice and cacao.
A Legendary Winemaker
Thierry Garnaud was maître de chai at Cheval Blanc from 1988 – 2018, responsible for such 100 Point Legends as the 1990, '98, 2000, '03, '05, '06, '08, '10, '15 & 2016.
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