2011 Bordeaux really isn’t as early as some people are claiming. In May and June the grapes were maturing ahead of schedule. But July and August were cold and slowed the vines’ development.
“My grand-father has always told me that an early vintage is a good vintage. An early vintage allows me to wait for the perfect ripeness as the weather is usually more stable in September”.
With our clay and limestone soils, the vineyards were in good shape. At the end of the harvest, if we controlled the yield and do a good job in the cellar, the results will allow us to make a good wine”.
With notes of honeysuckle, stone, lemon, apple, flowers and smoke, this concentrated, buttery California Chardonnay is rich, intense, focused and balanced, ending in a long, citrus oil and minerality finish.
“We were stressed because of a variable Bordeaux climate until almost the end of August. And now we are happy because of the nice back season we had until the end of the 2011 Bordeaux harvest!”
Grand Village, owned by Jacques and Sylvia Guinaudau, practices many of the same techniques used at their famous Pomerol estate, Chateau Lafleur. In fact, The Guinaudau’s refer to Grand Village as “Lafleur’s second vineyard”.
Due to its high demands in the vineyard and its fussiness in the cellar, the production of truly great St. Laurent wine is never an accident. It is a question of ambition and patience.
