Château les Gravières de la Brandille Bordeaux Superieur 2018 75 CL

Château les Gravières de la Brandille Bordeaux Superieur is a genuine bargain; lovely but affordable red wine with good intensity and true Bordeaux typicality.

The wine is made from the Borderie family’s own grapes from various parcels around Saint-Médard-de-Guizières, north-east of St-Emilión. Like its famous neighbor, merlot is the main grape here, with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc in significant supporting roles. The plots closest to the Isle River are the most gravelly, while slightly higher lying plots contain more lime and clay. The combination of high planting density and the average age of the fields around 40 years naturally produces low yields; a basic premise for good wine.
After the harvest, cold maceration is carried out for 5 days, after which the alcoholic fermentation extends over approx. one month. The Borderie family has invested in a few large basket presses, which are usually only seen at the region’s most prestigious manufacturers. The storage takes place mainly in concrete tanks, while a smaller part stores in wood.

Les Gravières de la Brandille exhibits the elegance that Bordeaux is famous for. Sure, it is a dry wine, but there is a healthy ripeness in the fruit and an intensity that belongs to a somewhat more expensive price range.

Nose and taste have intense aromas of red and dark berries, some cedar and gravelly minerals and ripe tannins that make the wine accessible now, but also promises well for a handful of years down the line if you have the patience to age the wine.

Enjoyed at 15-18°, preferably with a single dish of roast meat – both poultry, lamb and beef will work elegantly, especially flanked by a red wine-based sauce it does well.