Chateau La Dominique Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion

Chateau La Dominique Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion from France, Bordeaux, St-Emilion by Chateau La Dominique St-Emillion Bordeaux (12 x 75 cl)

The vines are an average of twenty years old. The grapes are handpicked and carefully sorted then put into temperature-controlled stainless steel vats for fermentation. This wine has a rich, round tannin and a pronounced fruity, musky bouquet with a hint of truffles. 60% new barrels. 1/4 gravel, 3/4 sand on clay subsoil. Parker, 89. (12 x 75 cl)

Located on the western part of Saint Emilion on the border with Pomerol; a single block of 18 hectares of vine planted on soil that is 20% deep gravel and 80% ferruginous sand mixed with gravel on a clay subsoil. The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot, which accounts for 80% of the vines, plus 15% Cabernet Franc and just 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with an average vine-age of 25 years. The harvest is picked by hand, sorted and then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks between 29º and 32º. The wine is then transferred into oak casks where the malolactics take place and thereafter it matures for 18 months in oak barrel, with 60% to 80% replaced every year. Before bottling the wine is fined with egg-whites and undergoes a light filtration. Just under 5,000 cases of Grand Vin are produced. Nice deep ruby/purple colour with woody nose and some interesting charcoal/leady notes on the finish. (12 x 75 cl)

Located on the western part of Saint Emilion on the border with Pomerol; a single block of 18 hectares of vine planted on soil that is 20% deep gravel and 80% ferruginous sand mixed with gravel on a clay subsoil. The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot, which accounts for 80% of the vines, plus 15% Cabernet Franc and just 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with an average vine-age of 25 years. The harvest is picked by hand, sorted and then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks between 29º and 32º. The wine is then transferred into oak casks where the malolactics take place and thereafter it matures for 18 months in oak barrel, with 60% to 80% replaced every year. Before bottling the wine is fined with egg-whites and undergoes a light filtration. Just under 5,000 cases of Grand Vin are produced. Slightly stalky nose with a touch of volatile acidity. Well-balanced with good acidity on the palate with fine fruit concentration, lot of cranberry and redcurrant. Very pure. The finish turns a bit more rustic, almost farmyardy with a touch of liquorice. Very big and showy with a fanfare finale.

Chateau La Dominique Grand Cru Classe St-Emilion from France, Bordeaux, St-Emilion by Chateau La Dominique (12 x 75 cl)

Chateau Grand Corbin-Despagne Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion from France, Bordeaux, St-Emilion by Chateau Grand Corbin St Emilion Bordeaux (12 x 75 cl)

Although built in the 12th century, today the Chateau is more neo-gothic in design due to extensive remodeling in the 19th century. the De Malet Roqueforts have owned La Gaffeliere for over 400 years, longer than any other family-owned property in Saint Emilion. Fermentation takes place in water cooled, stainless steel cuvees with three weeks maceration. The wine is aged for 20-22 months in oak casks of new or not more than 2 years of age. Fresh egg white fining, no filtration. The Chateau believes in a very long fermentation and in replanting only when absolutely to maintain a good average of old vines. These two factors combined with the high proportion of new oak casks gives a firmness and body to the wine and a tendency to slower maturing in bottle than most Saint Emilions. The 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon grape come from 22 hectares of vineyards. Elegant, restrained and measured, La Gaffeliere's 2000 exhibits a deep ruby/purple color along with a sweet bouquet of black cherries, currants, minerals, and subtle new oak. Medium-bodied, stylish, and graceful, with considerable finesse as well as moderate tannin in the finish, the balance and overall harmony suggest this wine is a keeper. (12 x 75 cl)

Vines have been grown at Chateau La Gaffeliere since Gallo-Roman times, as attested by a villa from this period discovered by Count Leo de Malet Roquefort. His family have owned and managed this chateau for four centuries giving them a richer and longer history than any other winegrowers in Saint-Emilion. The current owner makes use of this experience to renovate every now and then but also to perpetuate the traditions that have made La Gaffeliere famous worldwide. The wine is a deep ruby-red colour and it has a rich and complex bouquet with hints of blackcurrant and truffle. 18-20 months in new barrels. "...a compressed but alluring, medium bodied, finesse-filled format...pretty fruit and a dry, crisp finish. Anticipated maturity, 2000-2010." Parker, 87. (12 x 75 cl)

Chateau Grand Corbin-Despagne Grand Cru Classe St-Emilion from France, Bordeaux, St-Emilion by Chateau Grand Corbin St Emilion Bordeaux (12 x 75 cl)