Wine Advisor
Grand Village 2019
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
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.
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
A terrific performance for this estate, the 2019 Grand Village reveals a delicate, perfumed, complex bouquet with inviting aromas of dark wild berries, iris, violet, menthol and lead pencil. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, enveloping and supple, fleshy and crystalline, with a delicate, layered core of fruit framed by supple, polished tannins, concluding with a saline, lead pencil-inflected finish. It will offer a broad drinking window.
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.
