Chateau La Grolet ‘Origines’ Cotes de Blaye 2017

Winter claret from Bordeaux, France’s most iconic region for full bodied red wine, and a source of the worlds best Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. You can’t deny the quality and its best bottles transform with the right amount of age. Over the past few decades Bordeaux has become a millionaire’s playground, and not a region to hunt for small producers championing good farming practices and hands-off wine-making, elements of wine that we value at Press.

However, we’re pleased to offer this ‘gateway drug’ from a new generation of Bordeaux vignerons, from a organic and biodynamic vineyards r in the north-west reaches of the region, close to where the Gironde River leaves France and enters the Atlantic. It is from a Chateau La Grolet in Cotes de Blaye, a vineyard that is farmed and made by brother/ sister combo Jean-Luc and Catherine Hubert. The Cotes de Blaye is on the ‘right bank’ of the Gironde, directly opposite the famous appellations of Margaux and Pauillac. Whilst there is Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, being from the right bank it carries more Merlot with some Cabernet Franc and Malbec to compliment.

The estate has been in the Hubert family since 1890, whilst the current (and fifth) generation Jean-Luc and Catherine have farmed them organically and biodynamically since 2000 and transformed the approach in the cellar to a minimal style. There are no additives in the winery, with wild yeast ferments employed and a careful use of oak, with large old oak vessels, concrete and clay terracotta eggs all used for ferments and ageing (this wine sees 20% new French oak). The result is a delicious and affordable expression of the clay, gravel, sand and limestone rich soils of the undulating vineyards.

The blend is 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec, produced from vines with an average age 50 years old. It's a deep, meaty Bordeaux red with aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, blood and red florals The palate is full, juicy and supple with a classic Bordeaux structure and firmness of tannin. The black fruit flavours blend in with tobacco, leather and cedar. It will age comfortably for a further 5 plus years. Decant this for at least one hour and try it with red meats, steak and pepper sauce, any style of lamb or some hard cheeses.

Bordeaux is a classic of the wine world but not something we see promoted too often in the Australian market. It deserves to be enjoyed, appreciated and understood and this is a great window to the style. We hope you enjoy it.

Cheers,

Tom and Dan