Château Sainte-Marie, 2018 Entre Deux Mers, Vieilles Vignes, Screw Caps

A perennial favorite, this wine is a serious overachiever in the region that has historically been dominated by over-cropped vineyards, huge yields and chemical viticulture. No pesticides or herbicides are used here and vineyard density is 2-3 times the norm. Plowing of the soils is a given and the results are evident in the wine. Layers of minerals, sappy texture and crisp acidity follow a nose that leans towards sauvignon without being vegetal. Skin maceration pre-fermentation helps develop complexity and tension that is uncommon for the appellation. Citrus and melon dominate the nose with some cut hay.