Chateau Chantegrive Graves Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Chantegrive Graves with wine tasting notes and wine-with-food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, and information on winemaking and vineyards. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Chantegrive History, Overview

Chateau Chantegrive is not an old estate, especially by the standards of Bordeaux. Chateau Chantegrive was founded in 1966 by the well-known and popular courtier, Henri Leveque. The vineyard was cobbled together by purchasing parcels in a myriad of terroirs located in the Southern Graves region from the various communes of; Cerons, Illats, Podensac, and Virelade.

Chateau Chantegrive Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 95-hectare Southern Graves vineyard of Chateau Chantegrive is planted with both red and white Bordeaux wine grapes. 60 hectares are used for the production of red Bordeaux wine. 35 hectares are reserved for the production of white Bordeaux wine.

For the red wine grapes, the vineyard is planted to an even split of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. For the white wine, the vineyard is planted to interestingly enough, an even split again of 50% Sauvignon Blanc and 50% Semillon.

The terroir is a mix of gravel, sand, limestone, and small, quartz stones in the soil. The vines are on average 30 years of age.

To produce the red wine of Chateau Chantegrive, the wine is vinified in tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is aged in an average of 33% new, French oak barrels for 15 months.

For the production of the Chateau Chantegrive Blanc, vinification takes place in 50% new, French oak barrels. There is no skin contact. There is no malolactic fermentation. Chateau Chantegrive makes three different white Bordeaux wines.

Chateau Chantegrive and two Cuvees, Cuvee Caroline, which is a slightly higher-end version of their white wine, and a special Cuvee, Les Oiseaux Le Panache which is a blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sauvignon Gris.

There is a second wine, Benjamin de Chantegrive. Until 1995, the estate used to produce Cuvee Edouard, which came from the oldest vines in the vineyard. That wine is no longer produced. On average, the annual production of Chateau Chantegrive is close to 40,000 cases per year. The estate also produces a sweet, white Bordeaux wine in the Cerons appellation.

The Best Vintages of Chateau Chantegrive are 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, and 2005. Although it is important to note that vintages can vary as to their quality between the white wine and the reds with as in some years, the reds are markedly better and in other vintages the white wines are superior.

When to Drink Chateau Chantegrive, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Chantegrive can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Chantegrive is usually better with at least 1-3 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Chantegrive offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 2-5 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Chantegrive, with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Chantegrive is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The red wine of Chateau Chantegrive is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Chantegrive is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

The white wine of Chateau Chantegrive is a perfect wine to serve with shellfish, sashimi, sushi, all types of seafood, chicken, veal, and cheese.

www.chantegrive.com