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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.9 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 29 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Intellectual Sasquatch on 2/10/2023 & rated 90 points: Decanted for approximately 40 minutes and enjoyed over the next 2 hours. Seems to be in a good place. Classic old world style. Tannins dominate, but in a good way. (618 views) | | | Tasted by Shugs_Claret on 12/26/2020 & rated 93 points: Decanted for an hour in the glass. Stewed cherries on the nose. The palate is much more balanced now that the tannins have integrated. Really in a good spot now....finally. (1502 views) | | | Tasted by waibeans on 8/7/2020 & rated 89 points: Drank over 2 days first glass was very green tasting not as I’d expect from a st emillion. 2nd night much more enjoyable w typical dark fruit flavors. Give it some air. (1586 views) | | | Tasted by no leashes on 8/3/2020 & rated 90 points: Dark fruit, mocha and mineral flavors, smooth and drinking well (1568 views) | | | Tasted by Julian Marshall on 1/9/2019 & rated 89 points: Much better than a bottle tasted last year, this still has a lot of heat and some tannins, but it's drinking as well as it ever will. Some interesting citrus notes amid the still-dominant oak flavours together with some good cherry notes, but this could have been so much better without the vanilla and mocha from all that oak. If you like that sort of thing, it's fine, hence the score, but not a patch on the 98 or the 01. (2276 views) | | | Tasted by jlhkiss on 6/16/2018 & rated 92 points: Consistent with notes 18 months ago. More on the extracted side, but multi-dimensional, textured, with good weight and balance. Drink through 2030+. Technical score: 93. Enjoyment score: 92. (2188 views) | | | Tasted by zin1guy on 4/4/2017 flawed bottle: Audreyeeew (2435 views) | | | Tasted by jlhkiss on 12/1/2016 & rated 92 points: Opened and decanted 30-min ahead of a smoked meat brisket dinner. Dark purple ruby color, slightly cloudy. A powerful nose brings candied cherries, lush blackberries, creme de cassis, rich milk chocolate, sweet tobacco, pencil lead, and wild herbs. The palate is medium-full, round, concentrated, and silky, bringing sharp, sweet black fruit, including blueberries, boysenberries, black cherries, and blackcurrant, along with dried leather, dark chocolate, soy sauce, and lingering raspberries into the finish, which is firm yet refined. This is a well-balanced wine with linear flavors, a clean frame, and thick tannins. It should drink well for another 10+ years. (2689 views) | | | Tasted by MicklethePickle on 6/26/2016 & rated 92 points: Rich bloody ruby robe with good legs. With air, this really opened up nicely on the nose. Pretty perfume of pencil lead and cedar. Comes through nicely in the mouth as well. Rich, full, red fruit flavors with some earth unfolds in layers on the palate. Long, gentle finish. Not quite feminine, but trends in that direction. This shows no signs of decline and likely has many years of life ahead. It is even perhaps still developing. Nice wine. Essence of good Bordeaux. 5-13-16-8: 92/100. (3095 views) | | | Tasted by rahul_d_chatter@yahoo.com on 5/30/2016 & rated 88 points: Good nose. Dark color. Surprisingly tight and still slightly tannic for its age. Should have decanted for couple of hours instead of drinking straight from the bottle. Would have liked it more had we decanted it and were accompanying this to a meat dish. (2421 views) | | | Tasted by BklynNeophyte on 9/4/2015 & rated 91 points: very nice. (2466 views) | | | Tasted by Julian Marshall on 4/19/2015 & rated 86 points: Not bad but I wasn't over-impressed. Tannic at first, which I expected, thankfully not too much oak, but there isn't the depth of fruit I had hoped for. Maybe it'll come out of its shell in another two years. (2102 views) | | | Tasted by spo on 4/10/2013: Loved the flavor, definately what I am looking for in a cab or merlot. Cherry, mint, cedar, asphalt... tastes great.... no off flavors such as metal, wood or vegetables but too darn astringent to be accesible. (3715 views) | | | Tasted by NO SPIT on 12/26/2012: Outstanding wine, paired perfectly with slow roasted pork loin and fresh mushroom gravy with parm crusted broccoli. In a nice place right now. (3770 views) | | | Tasted by dynowine on 10/30/2010 & rated 90 points: Tested on a well-aired bottle, 3+ hrs. Rich alluring balanced nose of deep fruit, nutmeg-type spice, flowers. In the mouth rich ripe chewy and slightly smoky ripe fruit (black currant, blackberrry, dark berry) and stone with meaty and salty notes and hints of bitterness. Finish lingers of same in balance. Dry. Body medium, acid medium, tannin medium or higher. Paired well with a chicken-wine-herb stew. (4925 views) | | | Tasted by Jhcwine on 7/25/2010 & rated 90 points: Can't find my tasting note. Just recall that I was not overly impressed. (4797 views) | | | Tasted by Agucab on 7/7/2010 & rated 87 points: Not as sweet and fruitful as a California Merlot. Chocolate, smooth tannins, would probably wait another 12 mo. Had at WTS Amarillo 7 July 10 (4607 views) | | | Tasted by mmurry on 6/12/2010 & rated 89 points: Old World vs. New World (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had chocolate and blackberry, spice and cherry, and a little earth. The palate was a little tannic, but had cherry and earth, blackberry, chocolate, and a spicy finish. (3965 views) | | | Tasted by wineismylife on 6/12/2010 & rated 91 points: Saturdays at One - Volume 25: WIML91?
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of wet stones, Kirsch, a bit of camphor and notes of plum. Flavors of plums, berries and cherries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, medium bodied. Hold. (4063 views) | | | Tasted by NO SPIT on 3/22/2010: Very nice, will take another peek in 2012. (3610 views) | | | Tasted by djdaqm on 3/6/2010 & rated 89 points: Bordeaux Update (Wine Exchange. Orange, CA): Strong fruits on the nose--purple, dark berries, plums--with milk chocolate. Less so on the palate, with some caramel and burnt sugar. Medium tannins and length of ~30 secs. Needs to integrate more with time. (3861 views) | | | Tasted by Badfish on 3/6/2010 & rated 91 points: Bordeaux Update (Wine Exchange - Orange, CA): Wonderful complexity here with a stony edge to the aromas of berry, plum, earth, and spices. Really great on the palate as well with fresh plum and berry fruit. The structure is substantial but not overpowering and really gives superb texture throughout. Saint-Émilion was really great in 2005 and this does not disappoint. (4216 views) | | | Tasted by LPskeleton on 5/18/2008 & rated 91 points: roasted character of coffee, campfire and salami. packed with cherry and long on the finish. (3832 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Château Les Gravières Producer websiteRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanLibournais Libournais (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) - Read more about St. Emilion and its wines - Read more about Pomerol and its wines
Saint Emilion Grat Classified Growth, Classified Growths, Grands Crus Classes, GCC
In 1954, while the "Graves" growths had just published their own classification, the wine syndicate of Saint-Emilion, composed by wine growers, brokers and wine traders with the approval of the INAO - Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (A.O.C), decided to work on a classification for the wines of Saint Emilion. Initially, four grades were defined. These were reduced to two - First Great Classified Growth (A and B) and Great Classified Growth - in 1984.
As of Medoc's 1855 historical grading, the Saint-Emilion Great Classified Growth classification is not only based on qualitative criteria by tasting the wines on a ten years period previous to the assessment, but also on commercial considerations such as:
- sales price levels
- national and international commercial distribution
- the estate's reputation on the market
Properties who don't manage to join the club of about sixty Classified Growths are given the denomination of Great Growth ("Grand Cru"), while the remaining wineries of the A.O.C are simply reported as "Saint-Emilion". It is to be noted that the owners must officially apply to appear in the official classification. Thus for example the famous Chateau Tertre-Roteboeuf, whose quality and reputation would easily justify to be listed among the First Great Classified Growths, does not appear here by the will of its owner, François Mitjaville.
The Saint-Emilion Great Growth classification was revised in 1969, 1985, 1996 and 2006. The only two guaranteed vintage (A.O.C) who can apply to the classification are the "Saint-Emilion Grand Cru" and "Saint-Emilion" areas.
By grading 61 properties, the 2006 revision confirmed many growths from the former classification, but also caused a number of surprises and a few inevitable disappointments. Many observers thought that the impressive progression of Perse's Chateau Pavie since 1998 would be rewarded by an upgrade into the First Great Classified Growths (A) category, but finally such was not the case.
Among the estates promoted to the First Great Classified Growths B category are Chateau Troplong-Mondot and Pavie-Macquin, whose efforts made since the Nineties fully justify their new grade. It should be noted that no First Great Classified Growth was relegated to the lower Great Classified Growth class.
Promoted growths from the status of Great Growth ("Grand Cru") to Great Classified Growth ("Grand Cru Classe") are: Chateaux Bellefont-Belcier, Destieux, Fleur Cardinale, Grand Corbin, Grand Corbin-Despagne and Monbousquet.
The demoted growths from the status of Great Classified Growth to Great Growth are: Chateaux Bellevue, Cadet Bon, Faurie de Souchard, Guadet Saint-Julien, La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Belivier), La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Moueix), Lamarzelle, Petite Faurie de Soutard, Tertre Daugay, Villemaurine and Yon-Figeac. If the recent samples of some of the above mentioned properties may justify their current downgrade, there are great chances that estates like Bellevue, Tertre Daugay or Yon-Figeac will be upgraded to their previous rankings by the next revision in 2016 as the progresses noted after 2000, but not entering in the range of vintages (1993 - 2002) appointed for the criteria of selection for the 2006 classification, are noticable.
The two following estates have completely disappeared from the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classification: Curé-Bon-la-Madeleine (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Canon) and La Clusière (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Pavie).
Finally, no estate considered as "garagiste" has integrated the classification. Valandraud, Mondotte, Le Dome, Bellevue-Mondotte or Magrez-Fombrauge have, for the least, the potential to be ranked as Great Classified Growths. In sight of the very fine quality reached by the above mentioned estates in recent vintages as well as all the innovative wine making methods used by the "garagistes", it remains to be seen whether the authorities will dare to cross the line in 2016..?St. Émilion Grand Cru Les Vins de St. Émilion (Syndicate Vitocole de Saint-Emilion) – Read about St. Emilion
Vins de Bordeaux:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Soil: Sandy soils with alluvial gravel deposits
Surface Area: 4,160 ha |
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