Chateau Grand Village - Bordeaux Rouge 2019

Jacques Verdery, a remote ancestor of the Guinaudeau family, founded Château Grand Village in 1650. This vineyard is in fact the birthplace of the family of vignerons. The estate is situated in Mouillac, a part of the canton of Fronsac, and covers 50 hectares of land. This surface is divided between 20 hectares of vineyard positioned on the plateau and gentle slopes of Grand Village, and 30 hectares of woods and meadows.

Jacques Guinaudeau and his wife Sylvie took charge of Château Grand Village in 1980. For the last twenty years they have been writing a new chapter in its story. Then their son Baptiste and his wife Julie joined in the beginning of the new millennium, and together they embarked on a new adventure, taking a bold decision to work the vineyard and vinify the wines of Grand Village with the same approach and philosophy as Lafleur. Château Grand Village quickly became a singular wine, a down to earth Bordeaux crafted with the means and in the spirit of a grand cru.

A gorgeous dark nose with some perfumed black cherries, it smells faintly sweet and softly floral - so welcoming. A similar soft, sweetness follows on the palate straight away with such perfumed edges that are completely captivating. Succulent with clarity and soft chalky tannins plumping up the blackcurrant, Morello cherry and raspberry fruit. There's also a very specific iron filing, iodine salinity that lingers giving such texture and nuance to the overall frame. The finish is fresh and direct with a cooling sensation that lingers. Sophisticated and refined, but above all so joyous to drink. A top buy. From the same winemaking team and philosophy as Château Lafleur in Pomerol.

"Increasingly replanted or grafted over to vine genetics from Lafleur, and lavished with the same viticultural attention to detail, this estate is fast becoming a loss-making (but in many respects enriching) venture for the Guinaudeau family. Offering up aromas of cherries, wild berries, petals and sweet spices, the 2019 Grand Village is medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a long, mineral finish. It's a brilliant wine that makes a mockery of the traditional appellation hierarchy."-William Kelley

The 2019 Grand Village has a very intense bouquet of blackberry and bilberry fruit, showing fine delineation and purer than the vintages that I used to taste, say, a decade ago. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, grainy tannins and lovely balance. Quite caressing, with touches of dark chocolate discreetly interwoven on the finish. Excellent.