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Château Mille Roses
From its evocative name to an enviable position midway between Giscours and Cantemerle, Mille Roses is a find. Little wonder, then, that this small family-owned estate has created such a buzz among France’s sommelier community.
David and Sophie Faure began with just half a hectare of vines in 1999, but the vineyard has grown steadily since to 9.5 hectares, split between a four-hectare plot on the south-western edge of Margaux and parcels of Merlot, Cabernet and Petit Verdot in Haut-Medoc.
That gives the Faures scale without sacrificing the attention to detail that has forged their reputation. The Petit Verdot, for instance – first harvested in 2009 – is sourced from a massal selection taken from an old parcel of vines in Macau.
At a time when top-end Bordeaux pricing remains in the stratosphere, it all adds up to one thing: with its perfumed, supple fruit, Mille Roses represents remarkable value for money in both its incarnations – Margaux and Haut-Medoc.
Chateau Mille Roses Margaux 2011 : Deep ruby with top notes of roses and raspberry eau de vie, a middle register showing spicy wood with vanilla, almond and plum pudding and finally cocoa and coffee. Layered, very fine tannins and a medium body with incredible length and depth.
Château Mille Roses Haut Médoc 2011 : Raspberries and marzipan on the nose with dense layers of very fine tannins on a medium body with lovely freshness. Serious, but with a very light touch.
Château Mille Roses Haut-Médoc 2009 : Smoky nose with ripe plums and mocha on fore palate leading to cooler, red berries on firm finish. A joy to drink.