Pauillac 

2019

66% Cabernet Sauvignon
34% Merlot

Region: Bordeaux

ESTATE HISTORY

Château Bellegrave lies in the south of Pauillac, between Château Latour, Pichon-Longueville and Lynch-Bages.
Formerly the property of the late Mr Armand Roux, the estate was purchased in 1901, by his business partner and sole heir, Mr H. Van-Der-Voort, a trader in San-Francisco.
It was in 1997 that Mr J.P Meffre, already the owner of Château Du Glana and Château Lalande in Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, bought it.

Originally from the Comtat Venaissin in the Vaucluse region of south-eastern France, it was in 1954 that Gabriel MEFFRE, a renowned nurseryman in search of places to sell his plants, discovered the Médoc and bought several estates in Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac and Saint-Julien.

Today, his grandsons, Ludovic and Julien, run this new estate.

“We are convinced that Pauillac is the promised land for Cabernet-Sauvignon, the ideal spot for its strength and elegance to express themselves. Our passion for our art drives us on in our search for the most judicious balance between modern methods and the respect for tradition, to ensure that Bellegrave expresses its potential to the full.”

TERROIR

Surface area: 8,35 hectares
Average Age of the vines: 25 years
Density: 8,333 vines / hectares
Soil and subsoil: Garonne gravel

The vineyard is certainly one of the oldest in this privileged region and is surrounded by plots of the greatest classified growths in the Pauillac appellation. The estate has 8.30 hectares of vines with an average density of 8,333 vines per hectare.

As the estate's name suggests, the soil consists of gravel that both enhances drainage and releases heat at night that has accumulated during the day.

Technical expertise combined with meticulous work in the vineyard are conducive to optimum ripeness on this outstanding terroir.

VITICULTURE 

Removal of excess buds, leaf-stripping and thinning by hand
Harvest picked by hand and transported
in small trays
Management plot by plot
Rational pest control

WINEMAKING

Temperature control
Maceration in cool conditions,
from 24 to 48 hours
Duration of vatting: 3 weeks
Traceability monitoring

Maturity in barrels: 12 months of which 45% new oak (French oak)
Selection of cooperages

TASTING & FOOD PAIRINGS 

Quite, Quite simply, a very good vintage

Early bud break due to the mild winter slowed down vegetative growth, letting flowering take place in cool weather with no significant effects on the future harvest.

The summer was exceptionally hot, leading to significant water stress in the vines, but this was limited by much-awaited rainfall! Therefore, ripening was not halted, conducive to quick and homogeneous véraison (colour change).

Thanks to a dry, warm and sunny month of September, the grapes gradually developed good colour and tannin potential characteristic of a very fine vintage.

“The 2019 vintage at our estates is once again in line with some of the greatest. Even though the vines experienced significant water stress, this did not halt ripening. Wines from this vintage have a high alcohol content, but nevertheless present an impressive fruitiness and a beautiful tannic structure, resulting in a well-balanced blend thanks especially to the remarkable Cabernet Sauvignons!”

Pairs well with rack of lamb with rosemary, grilled ribeye or entrecôte, duck confit, mushroom risotto, roasted root vegetables with thyme, aged Comté, Gruyère, or English cheddar. 

The 2019 is still relatively young. For the best experience, consider decanting it for 1–2 hours before serving at around 16°C (60°F). This will allow those "alluring scents of crushed raspberries and incense" to fully open up.