Now here’s a little gem we stumbled upon... Tucked between the legendary Pontet-Canet and Mouton Rothschild lies a tiny plot of land, blessed with the same gravelly soils that have made Pauillac one of the world's most celebrated wine regions. This is Château La Contrée “Croque Parcelles”, the source of just one wine: a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon produced in a mere 2,800 bottles. Don't bother searching for scores or reviews. This wine is almost a ghost. Why? First, because there simply isn't enough of it to go around. And second, because the few bottles that do make it to market tend to disappear straight into the cellars of those in the know. So, forget the grand façades and famous labels for a moment and discover one of those insider wines that serious Bordeaux lovers quietly keep to themselves. Better still, it delivers exceptional value for money.
The grapes for Château La Contrée “Croque Parcelles” 2021 come from a single vineyard in Pauillac, planted exclusively with Cabernet Sauvignon. Pauillac is the most iconic village of the Médoc, renowned for producing some of Bordeaux's most structured, age-worthy wines and home to three of the region's five First Growth estates. Behind the project is monsieur Camou, a winemaker and long-established négociant with decades of experience in Bordeaux, making him intimately familiar with every aspect of the region.
For Château La Contrée “Croque Parcelles” 2021, harvest is carried out entirely by hand, with the fruit picked at optimum ripeness to strike the perfect balance between freshness and concentration. The wine is then fermented and aged for 12 to 16 months in French oak barrels, 25% of which are new. This careful élevage adds layers of complexity and refinement while preserving the pure expression of Cabernet Sauvignon and the unmistakable signature of Pauillac's terroir.
Château La Contrée “Croque Parcelles” 2021 is Bordeaux off the beaten path. Beyond the icons and inflated prices, it offers authenticity, character and a true sense of place, proving that some of Bordeaux's greatest treasures remain hidden in plain sight.
