Wine Advisor
Grand Village 2010
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This 37-acre estate is run by the same family who owns and makes the wines of the leading treasure in Pomerol, Chateau Lafleur. One gets a hint of the personality and the taste of Lafleur tasting the Grand Village, a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc from clay and limestone soils. This 2010 has good acidity and loads of freshness in a medium-bodied, pure raspberry and blackberry style. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc picked from 25th September until 15th October with the latter. The nose is quite refined, not and “in-your-face” bouquet but very precise was small dark berries and a touch of black olive. The palate is very defined with crisp tannins, with notes of blackberry leaf, a touch of pepper and raspberry leaf. Very poised and joyful on the finish. Very fine. Tasted April 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The Grand Village has a fragrant bouquet of redcurrant and fresh strawberry fruit that is defined and focused. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy but soft tannins. It is nicely balanced with crisp cranberry and light strawberry notes, the finish simple but fresh as a daisy. Tasted November 2012.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A sleeper of the vintage, this wine from the Guinaudeau family (the proprietors of Lafleur) may well be the best I have tasted from them. A blend of 75% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, the wine is more opulent and concentrated than previous vintages. With powerful kirsch and black raspberry fruit notes intermixed with hints of underbrush and licorice, this beauty should drink nicely for 5-6 years.
About the Producer
Founded in 1650 by Jacques Verdery, a direct ancestor of the Guinaudeau family, Château Grand Village is the birthplace of the family of vignerons. Grand Village is located just north of the Fronsac appellation, in the small commune of Mouillac. Grand Village is used as the home base for Jacques and Sylvie Guinaudeau and their family. The vineyards of Chateau Grand Village have remained in the hands of the same family since the 17th century. So, the vineyards for Chateau Grand Village were worked in a classic Bordeaux wine, vine-growing manner. In 2000, the Guinaudeau family, who have been in charge of Chateau Lafleur in Pomerol since 1985 began producing the wines of Grand Village. They switched to managing the vineyards of Chateau Grand Village in the same manner as they do at Chateau Lafleur in Pomerol. The vinification techniques began to mirror what they were doing in Pomerol as well, which improved the quality of wines being produced at Grand Village. Chateau Grand Village Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking The 17 hectare Right Bank vineyard of Grand Village is planted to red and white wine grape varietals. For the red wines, 14 hectares of vines were replanted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Franc comes from clones planted at Chateau Lafleur. For the white Bordeaux wines, 3 hectares of vines are planted to 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon. The terroir is similar to what you can find in St. Emilion with its mix of clay, limestone, and gravel. Chateau Grand Village uses many of the same vineyard farming techniques employed at their more famous estate, Chateau Lafleur in Pomerol. They practice pruning and de-budding adapted to each vine plant, crop thinning in summer, and de-leafing. The grapes are picked by hand. This is followed by very careful sorting and selection. Chateau Grand Village is vinified in traditional cement vats and is aged 30% new, French oak barrels for an average of 12 months before bottling. New oak barrels are sent to Chateau Lafleur, where they are used for the aging of the Grand Vin and Pensees de Lafleur. On average, the production of Chateau Grand Village is close to 5,500 cases of wine per year.
