Terroir plays a crucial role in winemaking, giving each wine its unique personality. Planted on one of the highest points in Moulis, Chateau Brillette’s vines are bathed in sunlight and share the same rocky soil as many of the grands crus classés of the Médoc region. This soil contains a large quantity of gravel, which attracts and retains heat, creating an ideal context for the ripening of the vine. The brilliant, or shiny, aspect of these stones as they are warmed by the sun is also the source of inspiration from which the name Chateau Brillette is derived. Composotion of the wine’s estate:
- 48% Merlot
- 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 9% Cabernet Franc
- 3% Petit Verdot
The relatively high percentage of Merlot grapes marks a defining characteristic of Chateau Brillette in a region where most wines favor the use of Cabernet grapes. Merlot brings roundness to the wine and allows it to be enjoyed as early as a few years after the harvest. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes structure the wine so that it may also be savored after many years of cellaring. A grape variety unique to the Médoc region, Petit Verdot brings depth of color and richness to the wine.
Situated in the heart of the Haut-Médoc, Moulis-en-Médoc is located on the left bank of the Gironde, on the same hills that produce some of the world’s most celebrated wines. The commune of Moulis unfurls its 550 hectares of vines along 12 kilometers from east to west and is bordered on one side by Saint Julien and Margaux on the other. The commune’s vines account for 4% of total vines in the Médoc region. Moulis benefits from a unique microclimate optimal for winemaking thanks to its location only a few kilometers west of the estuary. Sunshine abounds in summer and autumn, winter is mild and spring is relatively humid.