Wine Advisor
Grand Village 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Incorporating fully 25% Cabernet Franc derived from massal selections taken from Château Lafleur, the 2021 Grand Village offers up inviting aromas of dark berries, plums, violets and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, it's a lively, sapid wine that concludes with a saline finish. The progress of this estate, benefiting from upgraded vine genetics as well as the uprooting of less optimally sited parcels, transcends vintage variation to the extent that this 2021 should equal the quality Grand Village attained in 2016!
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2021 Grand Village, a blend of 48% Merlot (picked on the 17th and 24th of September) and 52% Cabernet Franc (picked on the 2nd of October), is undoubtedly one of the best values in Bordeaux, revealing a fresh, gourmand bouquet with aromas of raspberry, cassis, spring flowers and loamy soils. Medium-bodied, tense and elegant with a supple, velvety texture, it’s perfectly balanced with powdery tannins and a long, mouthwatering, sleek finish that enhances its drinkability. While it offers plenty of immediate charm, it also has the structure to age over the next decade.
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.
