Wine in Graves

Jean de Pontac began constituting the Haut-Brion vineyard, in the Graves region, in 1525. His descendants went on to produce “New French Claret”, the precursor of today’s great red wines. Their efforts enabled Arnaud III de Pontac to sell his wine under the estate’s name as early as 1660. It gained a fine reputation and enormous success in London. The first of the Bordeaux great growths was born! Haut-Brion’s history has been marked by many famous men: Count Joseph de Fumel (Field Marshal, Governor of the Province of Guyenne, and Mayor of Bordeaux), Talleyrand (Foreign Minister of Napoleon I, Emperor of France) and, more recently, C. Douglas Dillon (American ambassador to France and US Secretary of the Treasury during the Kennedy administration). In 1961, Haut-Brion was the first of the great growths to use stainless steel fermentation vats, and continues to be in the forefront of innovation thanks to the meticulous selection of the ideal clones for each grape variety used at the estate. Through the centuries, the owners and managers of Haut-Brion have been obsessed with perpetuating the château’s reputation for quality. Classified a First Growth in 1855, Haut-Brion has done everything possible ever since then to maintain its standing.

Discover Chateau Rahoul Blanc Graves Beer. Is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage. You can learn more about this beer and its availability here.

This large 177-acre estate in the southern Graves area was already under vines in the 16th century and once the property of Pope Clement V. The domaine was divided in 1877 in three smaller properties and the Bonnet family (also owner of Chateau Respide) acquired in 1965 the smaller one, about twenty-two hectares that kept the name Pavillon de Boyrein. The soil is clay-sand mixed with some limestone underground and the estate nicely located on a sunny slope right at the entrance of the Sauternes appellation. The twenty-two hectares are divided into four hectares of Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon producing a dry white wine and eighteen hectares of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon producing a soft and round wine. The white grapes are twenty years old and the red ones are forty years old. Only 2,000 cases of white Graves and 4,000 cases of red Graves are produced yearly. Frank bonnet, the current winemaker and owner, is particularly meticulous in preserving his family estate. It’s a long-term engagement into the vineyard environment and he keeps biodiversity by letting grass covering the rows between the vines to enhance nutrients and organic content. A water treatment station has been set up and parts of the vineyards, close to the river, are not planted but hosting men created nests for various birds such as blue tit and passerine which are quite helpful against insects. The winery is not looking for organic certification but aiming at minimizing the needs and use of any pesticides. The classic Sauvignon blanc and Semillon blend white wine undergo a short skin contact to enhance the fruit flavors. This bright, pale yellow colored, fruity and fresh wine exults notes of white flowers, apple and tangs of citrus. The merlot driven red wine is vinified in stainless steel tanks, using oxygenation technics to soften the tannins. It’s then aged for six month in barrels, one third being new before bottling.

Wine Advocate-Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux, France- "The 2009 is an extremely strong vintage of the Carbonnieux Blanc. It is exotic, honeyed, and higher in alcohol than some vintages, with compelling richness." [BARREL SCORE 90-92] (Elegant, Citrus, Mineral, Medium-bodied)

Discover Chateau Ducasse Graves Beer. Is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage. You can learn more about this beer and its availability here.

Discover Chateau Le Bonnat Graves 750ml Beer. Is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage. You can learn more about this beer and its availability here.

Intense and extensive aromatic spectrum. The freshness of the lemon and grapefruit zest, with delicate notes of passion fruits, is accompanied by subtle nuances of box, mentholated notes and hints of freshly cut hay. On the palate the wine is very well-balanced, concentrated in structure, revealing good acidity and a generous, full-flavoured fleshiness. The development of the aromas on the palate is characterised by a fruity freshness, which terminates in a long, lingering finish.

Discover Villa Bel Air Rouge Graves Beer. Is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage. You can learn more about this beer and its availability here.

Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France- A classy, elegant Sauvignon Blanc, this wine comes from one of the best vineyard areas in the Graves region. Subtle vanilla notes frame the crisp, dry, citrus flavors, Great with Red Snapper Swordfish or Trout.

Discover Chateau Trebiac Graves Bordeaux Beer. Is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage. You can learn more about this beer and its availability here.

Emeringes is a a village perched above Juliénas and its vines, often layed out on steep slopes, offer a good source of Villages quality Beaujolais. The château itself is at the top of the village, next to the church and Vincent David uses its cellars to make his wines. This is a full-flavoured, robust style of Beaujolais, generous and satisfying.

One of the most consistent and greatest value wines of Bordeaux, we admit to a serious soft spot for the wines of Domaine de Chevalier. Blessed with the climate, terroir and capability to fashion both reds and whites of fabulous quality, DDC is a producer with a wonderful track record; whilst universally excellent vintages like 2005 and 2009 deliver incredible quality, it’s the ‘off-prime’ vintages which show the class of the estate, especially for the reds: their 2006 is staggeringly good and the 2007 scores the same as the legendary millennium vintage. The whites regularly score 95 or more from Robert Parker and at less than one fifth the price of Haut Brion Blanc, it’s an absolute steal – the epitome of quality dry white Bordeaux at a fabulous price.

The red wine from Château Villa Bel-Air exemplifies the refined character of a Graves wine. Its remarkable balance reflects the harmony of the grape variety planting ratio. The nose is brimming with ripe red fruits and violet, underpinned by woody notes of vanilla and spice. It is well-structured with plenty of body and a robust, smooth finish that discloses fine tannins and licorice. Vines have an average age of 25 years. The planting ratio consists of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc.

Discover Chateau La Louviere Rouge Pess Leog 2010 Beer. Is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage. You can learn more about this beer and its availability here.

Discover Chateau De Chantegrive Graves Bordeaux Blend Beer. Is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage. You can learn more about this beer and its availability here.

Discover Couily Duth Chinon Graves Beer. Is a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage. You can learn more about this beer and its availability here.

The wine is a pale yellow color with a golden shimmer, and the aromatics hover between floral and fruity. In the mouth, the attack benefits from a refreshing acidity and the finish is long.

Very racy, with a sanguine frame to the delicious core of red currant, damson plum and linzer torte notes. Long, with tar and juniper lingering through the finish.

The 2010 Ch. Haut-Lagrange is an ambitious effort, offering a dense, opulent style in synch with the vintage’s character. A blend of 45 percent Merlot and 55 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, it reveals a hallmark cigar-box, wet-earth and Graves character overlaid by with sweet vanilla, smoke, and coffee notes, and no harsh tannins. It can be drunk now or cellared for another eight years.

Region/Terroir: Pessac-Leognan Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (30%). Alcohol: 14% VOL Soil: Gravel. Wine making: Grapes are harvested by hand. Fermentation occurs over 20 days in stainless steel vats. The wine is aged in oak barrels for 15-18 months. Cellaring potential: 10 years. (2012-2014) Our Tasting notes: The result is a wine with very pleasing aromas of black fruits (blackberries, black currant), red fruits (raspberries) and subtle roasted notes (grilled and smoky). Good fruit weight and fine gravel tannins giving it a lovely mouth feel. Hints of minerals and chocolate. Typifies the silky tannins, minerals and structure of the wines of Pessac-Leognan.