Château Penin Clairet 2024

Bordeaux is back, baby! But Bordeaux is back in a way you didn't expect. That way is clairet! You know when they say trends aren't created, just old things coming back? Well, your new obsession with light, chillable reds already existed in Bordeaux back in the Middle Ages. They would export it to England and call it vinum clarum, vin clar, or bin clar. History is fun!

Château Penin wasn't making it in the Middle Ages because they didn't start making wine until 1855, which is basically shortly after the Middle Ages. In 2022, Antoine and his brother Etienne became the sixth generation to run the estate, which has grown to 50 sustainably farmed hectares. This lighter red blends 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from grapes grown on a limestone plateau at the top of the village.

Short maceration over 24 to 48 hours, lightly pressed, slowly fermented at low temperature over 20 days. Light crimson, crushed dry wildflowers, wild raspberry, crushable acidity framed by barely-there tannins. Pink peppercorn at the end, because how not? A charmer!!!! Chill it slightly, drink it with whatever.