Maison Wessman’s top red wine — from Bergerac
If I told you that the French wine appellation of Bergerac is only about an hour east of Bordeaux, would that pique your interest? Some of the vineyards are sited in soils similar to Bordeaux. So I was all in when a friend offered to open a bottle of a wine he’d first tasted at a winery in a Medieval chateau in Bergerac.
The Bergerac appellation is in Southwest France, in an area that used to be known for “Perigord Purple” wines – meaning deeply colored, hearty, rustic wines – which was the case when this area was better known as “the Perigord.” Recently, I’ve been hearing more about how the wines in that whole region have been improving, thanks to targeted work in the vineyards, and increasingly refined production techniques.
Back to the Medieval castle: It’s called Château de Saint-Cernin. The castle itself was acquired and renovated by a wealthy businessman and his wife about 25 years ago. They also started a small wine company, Maison Wessman, hiring top consultants and managers. The company now produces well-crafted, very pleasurable wines – at least that was my experience the other night. So far, Maison Wessman’s wines have flown under the radar for Americans, with little available in this country. Perhaps that’s about to change?
2019 Maison Wessman No.1 Saint-Cernan, AOC Bergerac
The Bergerac red wines of Maison Wessman are blends of merlot and cabernet sauvignon; this is their top of the line, made with 60% merlot and 40% cabernet sauvignon.
Wines from this part of France have traditionally been produced to accompany food; well, that’s the case everywhere, not just in this region. The No.1 Saint-Cernan wine is no exception – though it may be a little more delicate than traditional.
The wine’s aroma blends garrigue and blackberry, followed by an initially hearty mouthfeel that becomes lifted on the palate. Very mild acidity. Any tannins are fine-grained and soft. Plum and blackberry linger pleasantly throughout the finish.
Paired with cheese, an herbed chèvre brought out elements of mountainy garrigue as well as emphasizing the flavor of the wine.
WHO: Maison Wessman
WHAT: 60% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon
WHERE: AOC Bergerac, France
HOW MUCH: n/a