2009 Château Gazin, Pomerol, Bordeaux
Critics reviews
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 14/03/2019
(Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2010)
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - March 2010)
From a vineyard near Petrus, Le Gay and La Fleur Petrus, it is full-bodied with licorice, earth, truffle and creme de cassis in the mouth. Give this powerful, backward 2009 an additional 6-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following three decades.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Feb 2012)
About this WINE
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.
Pomerol
Pomerol is the smallest of Bordeaux's major appellations, with about 150 producers and approximately 740 hectares of vineyards. It is home to many bijou domaines, many of which produce little more than 1,000 cases per annum.
Both the topography and architecture of the region is unremarkable, but the style of the wines is most individual. The finest vineyards are planted on a seam of rich clay which extends across the gently-elevated plateau of Pomerol, which runs from the north-eastern boundary of St Emilion. On the sides of the plateau, the soil becomes sandier and the wines lighter.
There is one satellite region to the immediate north, Lalande-de-Pomerol whose wines are stylistically very similar, if sometimes lacking the finesse of its neighbour. There has never been a classification of Pomerol wines.
Recommended Châteaux : Ch. Pétrus, Vieux Ch. Certan, Le Pin, Ch. L’Eglise-Clinet, Ch. La Conseillante, Ch. L’Evangile, Ch. Lafleur, Trotanoy, Ch. Nenin, Ch. Beauregard, Ch. Feytit-Clinet, Le Gay.
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.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
The 2009 Gazin is deep garnet colored and gives up broody tar and truffles notes over a core of baked plums, blackberry compote and charred meat plus a waft of leather. Full-bodied, firm and chewy, it has a good core of concentrated, savory flavors and an earthy finish.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 14/03/2019
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee