Château Sergant Lalande-de-Pomerol 2001

The classically wrought 2001 Château Sergant is deep in color and heady with the scents of cedar, crushed blackberry, and chocolate. Opulent and medium bodied, this wine exhibits a complex cache of flavors in the mouth, including fresh berries, hints of licorice, and that certain something the French call je ne sais quoi, and unequivocally that is a very good thing. Fine, supple, and supremely elegant, the 2001 Château Sergant is drinking beautifully at a mere three years of age thanks to a hedonistic cepage of 70% Merlot, 20% cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Nevertheless, well-integrated tannins provide a fine counterpart to the wine’s decadent fruit and lend themselves to further ageing. We suggest serving the 2001 Château Sergant at cool room temperature (no more than 68º F), after a half hour of breathing time. Enjoy!

The 2001 Château Sergant, like most fine Pomerol, constitutes the quintessential crowd pleaser at an elegant dinner party. Stuffed Crown Roast of Pork, Tournedos of Beef, and, perhaps, the finest accompaniment of all Braised Rabbit, served in a savory cream sauce, all provide superb accompaniments to the racy Château Sergant Lalande-de-Pomerol. Duck à l’Orange, a simple spit roasted chicken, or even turkey with all the trimmings offer more fine accompaniments this lovely claret. And if you’re feeling selfish, skip the dinner party and drink the 2001 Château Sergant with that special someone or by yourself. Grill a few shitake or portabella mushrooms and put out a plate of selected cheeses and make your own party. After all, who’s better than you, anyway?

Château Sergant is one of the stars of the excellent Bordeaux commune of Lalande-de-Pomerol. Situated on the gravelly plateau of Lalande-de-Pomerol, which connoisseurs and critics alike consider to be the rising star of Bordeaux’s right bank communes, Château Sergant produces on average a mere 7,500 cases of fine red Bordeaux from 40 acres of vines. Purchased in the 1960’s, this admirably situated property was completely replanted by Jean Milhade, one of Bordeaux’s most respected vignerons. The Milhade family is well known in Bordeaux for their loving restoration of historic Bordeaux wine properties and an uncompromising devotion to the production of high quality, opulent, full-flavored red wines. Consequently, Château Sergant now serves as a model for other growers in the area. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc constitute the oenological triumvirate responsible for the fine claret produced at this estate. Undoubtedly, quality is the overriding objective at Château Sergant, and quality is what flows from this property by doing all the right things: producing low yields, practicing hand harvesting and sustainable farming methods, controlling fermentation, barrel ageing for 18 months, and using a second label for vats that do not meet the Château’s strict standards. It is just such practices that have helped this fine estate win a number of gold medals, including at least one first place finish from the Concours Agricole de Paris, France’s most prestigious wine fair.