2001 Ch. Gazin, Pomerol

Château Gazin

Château Gazin was reputedly built upon the ruins of the Hôpital de Pomeyrols which was originally established by the Knights of Malta in the 12th century. It has been owned by the Bailliencourts dit Courcol, one of France's oldest families, since the beginning of the last century.

Gazin is located in the eastern part of the Pomerol plateau, where the soils are rich in clay and limestone. Gazin's 26-hectare vineyard (large by Pomerol standards) adjoins the vineyards of L'Evangile and Petrus. The wine is a blend of Merlot (80%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The grapes are vinified traditionally and the wine is matured in oak barriques (50% new) for 15-18 months.

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.