2009 Ch. de Chantegrive Rouge, Graves
Critics reviews
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate #199 - Feb 2012
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate #199 - Feb 2012
About this WINE
Chateau de Chantegrive
Château de Chantegrive is one of the largest wine estates in the Graves appellation, in the commune of Podensac, with 97 hectares (240 acres) of vines.
It is a member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux. The Chateau produces a red & rose wines from Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon,as well as white wines based on Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from 10 hectares (25 acres) of 30+ years oldvines
In 1966 Henri and Françoise Lévêque purchased some vineyards around the village of Podensac and gradually set about creating the Chantegrive estate. The baton has now been passed to the younger generation and the progress continues.
The Cuvée Caroline is their white wine produced from 12 hectares of vines. The juice is fermented in barrel and is then aged in new Allier oak casks for 9 months, with regular stirring of the lees to enrich then wine. A recent clutch of awards bears testimony to the exciting quality of wine being made here and the recognition it is deservedly earning
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself particularly well in blends with Merlot. This is actually the archetypal Bordeaux blend, though in different proportions in the sub-regions and sometimes topped up with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
In the Médoc and Graves the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can range from 95% (Mouton-Rothschild) to as low as 40%. It is particularly suited to the dry, warm, free- draining, gravel-rich soils and is responsible for the redolent cassis characteristics as well as the depth of colour, tannic structure and pronounced acidity of Médoc wines. However 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be slightly hollow-tasting in the middle palate and Merlot with its generous, fleshy fruit flavours acts as a perfect foil by filling in this cavity.
In St-Emilion and Pomerol, the blends are Merlot dominated as Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen there - when it is included, it adds structure and body to the wine. Sassicaia is the most famous Bordeaux blend in Italy and has spawned many imitations, whereby the blend is now firmly established in the New World and particularly in California and Australia.
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Description
Red pepper, smoke, soft cedar and bramble combine on this fresh and lifted Graves nose. Bright fruits on the palate with hints of oak spice.
Fine Wine Team This wine has a heady richness and a savoury tobacco character alongside a black and blue fruit palate. The lovely Graves texture adds an elegance alongside excellent balance of flavours and a spicy finish.
Laura Atkinson, Fine Wine Team
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