Critics reviews
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 30th April 2015
About this WINE
Ch. Rahoul
Ch. Rahoul, in the wine appellation of Graves, is a truly historic property - one of the finest in the region and how it is still as affordable as it is, is a mystery to us. The pretty chartreuse was built in 1646 by the Chevalier Guillaume Rahoul and his coat of arms still adorns the label to this day. It became a prominent winery in the late 19th Century and Rahoul was featured in the 2nd edition of the Feret wine guide in 1868 as one of the best wines in the commune of Portets.
The current owner is Alain Thienot (of Champagne Thienot) who bought the property in 1986. No expense is spared in either the vineyard or the winery – quite simply they are aiming to produce the best wines possible here. Planted on sandy-gravel soils, with a majority of 75% Merlot, the style of the red is always voluptuous and rounded.
In a great vintage such as 2005, Rahoul produces wines of extraordinary opulence and richness. The palate has that reassuring touch of Graves minerality which reminds you that are still in Bordeaux and that their wines are very complex indeed.
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
The Château Rahoul 2014 is a blend of 78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon picked September 30th-October 7th. Two samples were tasted, one dusty, but the other with easygoing, soft red berry fruit that felt a little jammy. The palate is sweet on the entry with ripe tannin and pointed acidity, but lacking the persistence on the finish.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 30th April 2015
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