Château Picque Caillou 2017

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Picque Caillou 2017

Tasting

Color

The color displays a characteristic garnet hue, reflecting well-managed extraction and the balance sought during vinification.

Nose

The nose stands out for its delicacy and indulgent character. It opens on aromas of candied red fruits with ripe blackcurrant to the fore, accompanied by peppery spicy notes that bring sophistication and complexity to the bouquet.

Palate

The attack is supple and round. The palate reveals lovely volume with a pleasant sweetness supported by dense yet silky tannins. The minerality, particularly attractive, emerges mid-palate as a fresh, saline backbone. The oak, perfectly integrated, shows through notes of smoke, licorice, and cocoa without dominating. The finish is persistent, with satisfying length where fruity and spicy notes return.

Food and wine pairings

This Pessac-Léognan pairs ideally with grilled or roasted red meats, notably a herb-crusted rack of lamb with Herbes de Provence or a roast beef. It also matches very well with furred and feathered game, dishes in sauce, as well as cooked-pressed cheeses such as Comté, Cantal, or ewe’s-milk tomme. For those with a sweet tooth, it pairs perfectly with chocolate desserts.

Serving and cellaring

Château Picque Caillou 2017 can be enjoyed between 2024 and 2028 or so according to official recommendations, although it can evolve harmoniously until around 2032 under optimal cellaring conditions.

An elegant and balanced Pessac-Léognan

The estate

Founded in 1755 by Jean Laclotte, Château Picque Caillou is located on the outskirts of Bordeaux, in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Run since the 1990s by Paulin and Isabelle Calvet, the estate stands out for its Günzian gravel terroir, ideal for producing white wines renowned for their minerality and freshness, as well as balanced red wines. Despite growing urbanization, it remains one of the region’s last winegrowing strongholds, with a strong environmental commitment.

The vineyard

The Château Picque Caillou vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir at the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The soil is made up of fine Pyrenean gravels of the Gunz type, offering excellent drainage and low natural fertility—ideal conditions to encourage deep vine rooting and aromatic concentration. Rapid urban soil warming creates an early vegetative cycle, enabling cabernet sauvignon to reach optimal ripeness. Since 2018, the estate has been certified Haute Valeur Environnementale, reflecting a deep commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment.

The vintage

The 2017 vintage in the Bordeaux region was marked by a spring frost that reduced yields, contributing to greater concentration in the remaining grapes. The summer season that followed, less sunny and less warm than in previous years, brought a more pronounced oceanic climate influence, encouraging the expression of minerality and fruity acidity. This vintage is defined by its balance, built on freshness, delicacy, and vibrancy rather than power.

Vinification and aging

Vinification of Château Picque Caillou 2017 begins with temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation between 25 and 28°C in stainless-steel tanks. Post-fermentation maceration is maintained at 30°C for about ten days before being run off into tank. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in tank. Aging, lasting twelve months, follows a balanced approach with one-third new barrels, one-third barrels used for one wine, and one-third barrels used for two wines, ensuring a refined oak contribution without dominance.

Grape varieties

Cabernet sauvignon (65 %)
Merlot (35 %)