Barrel ageing
The wines continue their evolution during 12 to 24 months in split oak barrels. At Château Boyd-Cantenac, the free-run wines are traditionally aged in new oak. During their stay in barrels, they progressively separate from their lees which then become the object of special care, and are used to enhance further the complexity of the wines.
Blending
The grapes from each block of vineyard are fermented and barrel-aged separately. The different lots are tasted periodically, and the most complementary ones and those embodying the greatest potential are combined to produce the wine of Château Boyd-Cantenac. The other lots, as well as the wines coming from young vines, are most often used in the composition of the second wines.
The wines
The recent vintages are dark and dense, with complex aromas of fruit and spices, before the bouquet which develops during bottle ageing arrives to complete this harmony. On the palate, the attack is often clean, lively, followed by a sensation of volume that fills and coats the mouth. At the finish, the woven tannins guarantee the wines' excellent ability to age.
Beyond this sketch, according to the specific climatic conditions in which it was born, each vintage will have its own personality.
We do not know the true extent of the influence that this or that hot summer day had, or one September rain, on speeding up the grapes' maturity, or one night cooler than another had on the Cabernet's aromas, but with bottle-aging, Margaux wines always confirm, after several years in the bottle, their identity, among which is their forever-surprising ability to be at the same time intense, dense, complex, long, delicate, elegant, with lovely freshness and of undeniable harmony.