Chateau du Gravillon – Saint-Emilion – 2021

Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Château du Gravillon was purchased in 1960 by Georges Lavaud, first generation winemaker who followed his passion venturing into winemaking having previously worked as an agricultural consultant. The estate is now run by Georges’ son owner and winemaker, Hubert Lavaud, who cultivates sustainably and is HVE Level 3 certified. Located in the commune of Saint Sulpice de Faleyrens the Château Gravillon covers 3.5 hectares of exceptional terroir nestled in the heart of Saint Emilion, near the famous Grand Cru Classé Château Monbousquet. Château Gravillon takes its name from the gravel soils and produces accessible wines typical of the appellation.

THE VINTAGE:
2021 was a challenging year in Bordeaux. A warm and wet spring caused bud-break around two weeks earlier than average, which were then affected by the April spring frosts that took hold across the region. The effects were minimised in some vineyards due to the proximity of the rivers. A wet spring led to a surge in mildew, which required vigilance by the vignerons. Fortunately hot, dry weather in August, interspersed with light rain, led to rapid development of the vines. 2021 leans towards a classic and fresher style.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
Château Gravillon is located in Saint Emilion on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. The vineyard is cultivated sustainably and holds the Level 3 Certificate for Haute Valeur Environmentale (HVE). The HVE is a voluntary approach which aims to identify and promote environmentally friendly practices applied by farmers and winegrowers. It covers four areas: biodiversity conservation, plant protection strategy, management of fertiliser use and water management. In Château Gravillon’s vineyard, the rows between the vines have grass cover crops which help to encourage biodiversity and reduce the need for herbicides. The soil is tilled and copper is not used in the vineyard. The soils are made up of sand, clay and gravel; the high clay content dominates on the Right Bank and is known for its good water retention properties, it is cool and high in acidity. The gravel component encourages vines to penetrate the soils to find nutrients. The average age of the vines is 30 years and they are planted at a high density of 6,000 vines per hectare.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
The must was fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel vats with twice daily pump-overs to extract colour, flavour and structure and to oxygenate the wine. Fermentation lasted for two weeks. The wine was matured in a combination of stainless steel and cement tanks of 85 hectolitres to 150 hectolitres capacity, for 18 months. This cuvée was vinified without the influence of oak, to express the purity of fruit and the nuances of the terroir.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
An intensely coloured blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon delivering expressive aromas of ripe plum and blueberry. Soft and fruity, with silky tannins and a smooth finish.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Merlot 90%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%.