The Story
The Chateau Haute-Fonrousse exists since 1870. Overlooking the valley of the Dordogne, this family property has been rhythm of the vine for several generations.
While respectful of the work done by the previous generations, Stéphane uses modern techniques from the first bud until the harvest. He has an almost instinctive «touch» with the Semillon grape and excels in making some of the most delicious semi-sweet and dessert wines in the Southwest of France.
33 hectares on the towns of Monbazillac and Pomport. The daily sunshine gives richness and quality to noble grape varieties planted: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc…
The grapes are harvested with special care to keep their quality and aromas.
The Wine
60% Sémillon, 30% Sauvignon blanc, 10% Muscadelle
Golden colour of medium intensity. Lovely aromas of peach and exotic fruits on the nose. Fresh, round, fruity and perfectly balanced between fruit and acidity on the palate. Very harmonious with a long finish.
Grandissime’s advice
“Ideal on its own as an aperitif, this wine will be also a great companion to white meat, Asian meals and blue cheese. Serve at 10 to 12°C. “
The Story
To the north of the little village of Saint-Lambert, the Grand Plessis vineyard boasts a choice location, amidst the most reputed estates of the Pauillac Appellation, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Lynch Bages, Château Pichon Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande and Château Pichon Baron de Longueville.
The Pauillac terroir has been crafted by the hand of man for millennia, in particular along the river. The territory of Pauillac as we know it today was created when two former parishes, Saint-Martin de Pauillac and Saint Lambert de Rignac, whose respective lords were Lafite and Latour, were joined together..
Grapes are harvested manually, in keeping with tradition. The time devoted to the harvest varies, depending on the ripeness of the different grape varieties.
The grapes are sorted three times: first before picking, then on a mobile sorting table in the vineyard, and finally in the vat-room. Once they have been totally de-stemmed and gently crushed, the grapes are placed in concrete epoxy-lined vats.
The Wine
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot
A lighter style of Pauillac, medium-bodied, with cassis, dark berries and tobacco
Grandissime’s advice
“With its soft tannins, this Pauillac can be enjoyed young. A few more years will add some complexity to the wine.”
The Story
Legend holds that a lord, away on a crusade, came back too late for the harvest and found out that his grapes had rotten.
He decided to harvest and to vinify the grapes anyway. Much to his surprise, he had just discovered the sweet white wine for which Sainte Croix du Mont is famous.
Located on generally steep hillsides, practically within shouting distance of Sauternes and Barsac, the vineyard benefits from remarkable natural factors: generous sunshine, on limestone clay soil.
In the purest tradition of Bordeaux’s greatest sweet white wines, the wine growers have set themselves very strict wine making regulations.
The harvest is late, with successive sorting of grapes, which favors good development of healthy and homogenous Botrytis (noble rot of the grape) of the grapes.
This is the best of the three sweet wine appellations on the Right Bank of the Garonne River..
The Wine
100% Sémillon
Beautiful light gold color. Its pleasant nose marries notes of white fruit, candy sticks and sweets. Very similar palette on the palate with a very pleasant sensation of freshness.
Grandissime’s advice
“This wine received a bronze medal at the Concours de Bordeaux – Vins d’Aquitaine in 2011.”
The Story
Château Le Gay belongs to the BOURSAUD family since 1922. Back then the vine represented barely 15% of the area, with very old plantations. Jean BOURSAUD has built the vineyard and made the appropriate adjustments in order to specialize in the production of white wine. He changed his mind in the 60s and started producing red wine with the help of his son Claude, who runs the estate since 1970.
This vineyard, which used to have a rural setting, finds itself today in a suburban environment, on the slopes of the Bordeaux community, with all the consequences resulting of this. This merger of the city as well as climate upheavals require further observation of nature in order to adapt the soil and vine work. This is why all operations are carried out under the supervision of the family, doing their best to protect the environment and sell qualitative local products.
The Wine
23% Sauvignon, 77% Sémillon
Aromas of yellow peach with a slightly minty scent, great freshness on the palate. Round and bodied wine with a long and aromatic finish.
Grandissime’s advice
“Delightful and well-balanced! Serves well with roasted or soya sauce chicken.”
The Story
The Château Franc Bigaroux is located on the municipalities of Saint Sulpice de Faleyrens and Saint-Emilion. It is formed by 8 separate plots surrounding the famous Châteaux Monbousquet, Pavie and La Gaffelière, for a total vineyard of 8,50 hectares.
The Château Franc Bigaroux uses the best ancestral cultural methods from the appellation Saint-Emilion Grand Cru to obtain a wine of the very pure tradition of Bordeaux.
The Wine
60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Black Bigarorrea cherry colour, feminine through its elegance, its roundness and its character. The wood well melted gives toasted and roasted notes.
Grandissime’s advice
“A well-structured wine that will enjoy a dozen years of keeping.”
The Story
The Barthe brothers call themselves ‘the happy wine growers’ – this delicious wine echoes their love for their vineyards.
Chateau Darzac has been in the Barthe family for 220 years, and together with the land and buildings, a deep natural passion for wine growing has been passed from generation to generation.
Claude, the father of the actual owners, is at the age of 75, still active as winemaking consultant. In 1996 his sons, Stéphane and Alain, took over the running of the property and have been hugely successful and happy in carrying on the family tradition.
50 Ha – 36 Ha in red 14 in white
Average age of vines 30 years
Soil: silty clay hillsides & boulbène
The Wine
15% Sémillon, 30% Sauvignon blanc, 30% Muscadelle, 25% Sauvignon Gris
It develops a citrus fruit, white flowers and box wood nose. In the mouth, it shows a fine balance between fat and acidity, volume and roundness for a lively final.
Le Conseil de Grandissime
« A perfectly balanced Entre-Deux-Mers. »
The Story
Family estate for three generations, the vineyard covers a total of 4.5 hectares, 3.59 hectares of which are devoted only to red wines.
The vines are planted on gravel clay soils.
The grapes are selected with great care and harvested at full maturity to keep the maximum of fruitiness. The grapes are destemmed and then follow fermentation in tanks for three weeks.
Elaborated by the 3rd generation of winemakers, with a passionate and meticulous work, this wine reveals both the expression of the soil and the character of the grape varieties.
The Wine
70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Malbec
With a deep ruby colour and an intense bouquet of red fruits on the nose, the wine reveals all its elegance, being supple and round on the palate.
Le Conseil de Grandissime
«This well-balanced wine will be a great companion to roasted or grilled red meat and cheese.»
The Story
In the Middel Ages, the expression Entre-Deux-Mers referred to the specificity of the area, located between Garonne and Dordogne, rivers raised by the tide.
Large region located some 80km far from Bordeaux, this geographical area is landlocked between these rivers.
The Entre-Deux-Mers appellation is the largest AOC wine region in France, with a planted surface of about 7000 ha.
The appellation spreads on a wide plate of clayey chalk soils but the Entre-Deux-Mers area is large enough to explain the diversity of the terroirs.
The most important grape is the sauvignon, which gives the wines particular and much appreciated aromas to the young wines.
The Wine
The Entre-Deux-Mers show different colours. The most characteristic however is pale gold. With strong bouquet, the wine develops elegant fruity and flower perfumes, thanks to the Sauvignon and the Sémillon.
The wine from the Entre-Deux-Mers tastes fruit, this mix of sweetness and acidity that excites the taste buds, refreshes and brings a pleasant sensation of freshness. It is nervous and well balanced with citrus fruit, white flowers and exotic fruit notes.
Grandissime’s advice
« Dry, fresh, lively and fruity, the Entre-Deux-Mers has a strong personality.. »
