Château Mangot, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, FR, 2018

93-95RP: Blended of 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Mangot unfurls to show off bright blackberry, crushed blueberries and warm plums scents plus notions of lilacs and cedar. Full-bodied and laden with layers of pure, vibrant black and blue fruits, it has a smooth, rounded tannin texture and long, refreshing finish.

In 1980, Anne Marie, the youngest of the PETIT daughters, gave up her pharmacy studies to come back to the family property.

In 1981, she married Jean Guy Todeschini: a master stone mason by trade, and he gradually came to support her more and more at Mangot.

Until 1989, Anne-Marie and Jean-Guy would share the running of the two family businesses and bringing up their young sons, Karl (born in 1982) and Yann (1984): two budding wine growers…

From 1989 to 1998, they completely transformed the vineyards at Mangot (re-structuring, re-planting, terracing and drainage works) to bring on the quality in leaps and bounds, year after year, and finally obtain the GRAND CRU label for the estate’s 34 hectares.

In 2001, it was the turn of all the buildings to be modernised, a return to his roots for Jean Guy, a stone mason and architect at heart…

From 1996 to 2008, they travelled in France and abroad to promote the new face of Mangot and look for partners.