{"title":"GRAVES \u0026 PESSAC-LÉOGNAN","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Graves_Sauternes_Collection_Banner.jpg?v=1540197660\" alt=\"Vineyards in Sauternes, Bordeaux\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"7\"\u003eLong before the famous marshlands of the northern Bordeaux peninsula were ever drained, the sun-drenched banks immediately south of the city were already crafting the region’s original benchmark wines. This historic landscape is \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"229\"\u003eGraves\u003c\/b\u003e, a territory that takes its name entirely from its unique, stone-shattered ground. Walking the rows here reveals deep, ancient beds of river-washed gravel, quartz, and flint mixed with sand and clay. These distinctive stones play a vital dual role for the vines; they act as a flawless natural drainage system that forces the roots to dig deep into the earth for nutrients, while simultaneously soaking up the fierce midday sunshine to radiate that heat back up into the leaves during chilly nights, creating perfectly even ripening conditions for \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"784\"\u003eCabernet Sauvignon\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"7\" data-index-in-node=\"807\"\u003eMerlot\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\"\u003eThis remarkable terroir gives the area a unique double identity that sets it apart from the rest of Bordeaux. While it produces deeply complex, savoury, cedar-scented \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"167\"\u003edry red wines\u003c\/b\u003e, it is equally celebrated for its world-class \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"227\"\u003edry white wines\u003c\/b\u003e. Unlike other districts where white grapes can feel like an afterthought, winemakers here take the blend of \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"351\"\u003eSauvignon Blanc\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"8\" data-index-in-node=\"371\"\u003eSémillon\u003c\/b\u003e incredibly seriously. By fermenting and ageing these white blends inside oak barrels, they round out the grape's naturally sharp acidity, introducing a remarkably rich, waxy texture and an aromatic profile of citrus oil, lemongrass, and subtle spice that develops beautiful complexity with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003eThe absolute pinnacle of this style is found in the northernmost corner of the district, within the highly prestigious \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"119\"\u003ePessac-Léognan appellation\u003c\/b\u003e. This specific pocket houses the area’s most celebrated, historic châteaux. Rather than following a rigid, multi-tiered hierarchy like other parts of Bordeaux, the standout estates here were unified under a singular, definitive classification system. Any bottle bearing the \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"9\" data-index-in-node=\"420\"\u003eGrand Cru Classé de Graves\u003c\/b\u003e classification represents a true benchmark expression of the region, offering everyday drinkers an effortless guarantee of exceptional structure, history, and unmistakable mineral character.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"chateau-picque-caillou-red-wine","title":"Château Picque Caillou 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Château Picque Caillou Grand Vin de Graves is a truly exceptional red wine, from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, made under the direction of Denis Dubourdieu and using state-of-the-art modern viticulture practices. A Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominated blend the wine is aged for 12 months in oak (30% new) before release. Intense aromas of spices, red fruits and vanilla the palate is medium-bodied with flavours of red cherry, cassis and lightly grilled oak. Silky tannins and long finish. [#intro]Château Picque Caillou delivers structured, smoky Left Bank complexity from Bordeaux's historic Pessac-Léognan...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Picque Caillou","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":20717372309562,"sku":"A20PICQUEGRANDVIN-1","price":26.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/Grand_Vin.jpg?v=1540365565"},{"product_id":"domaine-de-la-solitude-blanc","title":"Domaine de la Solitude Pessac-Léognan Blanc 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Domaine de la Solitude Blanc is a white wine largely inspired from the successful model developed over a long period at Domaine de Chevalier. Adopting a rigorous selection criteria only grapes of the very highest quality are used in the blend. The fruit is slowly pressed and the juice flows down by gravity into a buried vat. It is then decanted into one year old barrels where the phases of vinification all take place at once. The fermentation in casks and the regular stirring of the fine sediment lasts 9 to 10 months and then the bottling happens before the following summer. Fining of the wine is only made when necessary. This meticulous attention to detail give the wine its precise character, with its freshness and power, its extreme elegance, its beautiful lasting taste in the mouth and its capacity to age well. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc (60%) and Sémillon (40%), the Domaine de la Solitude Blanc offers explosive floral and fruity aromas of acacia, peach, citrus and exotic fruits. The palate is rich and fresh with a typical mineral accent and the finish is long and exquisite.[#intro]A white of great character, freshness \u0026amp; elegance with the capacity to age well...[\/intro]\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"La Solitude","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32275841974339,"sku":"A17SOLITUDEBLANC-1","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/WhiteBottle.jpg?v=1610733406"},{"product_id":"domaine-de-la-solitude-pessac-leognan-rouge","title":"Domaine de la Solitude Pessac-Léognan Rouge 2014","description":"\u003cp\u003eDomaine de la Solitude Pessac-Léognan Rouge is made to the same high standards and adopts the same winemaking principles as those Olivier Bernard adopts at Domaine de Chevalier. The aim is to produce a classical wine that expresses the elements of the terroir and compares to the very best Grand Crus of the Pessac Léognan appellation. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (30%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) all grapes are carefully selected and hand harvested, before further rigorous selection at the winery sorting table. The grapes are de-stemmed and transferred to tank via gravity in order to protect the integrity of the skin of the fruit, so important for the wines tannins. Intense red in colour the Domaine de la Solitude Rouge is a beautifully balanced wine, full, fresh and fruity with a long structured and velvety palate.[#intro]A beautifully balanced fresh \u0026amp; fruity wine with a long velvety palate...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"La Solitude","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32275954991171,"sku":"A14SOLITUDEROUGE-1","price":32.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/products\/RedBottle_7d94be99-4a00-4fe2-8601-1d97c8f39abf.jpg?v=1610736198"},{"product_id":"le-petit-haut-lafitte-rouge","title":"Le Petit Haut Lafitte Rouge 2016","description":"\u003cp\u003eLe Petit Haut Lafitte Rouge is the second wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%). Blended at the same time as Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Le Petit Haut Lafitte Rouge is crafted and aged with the same care and attention to detail as the estate’s Grand Vin. From the vineyard to the cellar, the entire winemaking process is exactly the same. sourced from the best plots of young vines. Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2016 is a deep, dark, intense red. The nose reveals notes of black fruit and dried grass. Upon aeration it becomes much more expressive and complex, with notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, cigar leaves, dried jalapenos, and cold smoke. On the palate the 2016 is concentrated with the firm tannic structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks to the Merlot, it is also full, smooth and ample. Le Petit Haut Lafitte delivers lovely structure, volume and smoothness with a very long, fresh finish that recalls the same aromatic palette as the nose, with notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, tobacco leaves, star anise and flint. Refined and elegant, Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2016 expresses the characteristics of Cabernet grapes planted on gravelly soils. [#intro]Crafted \u0026amp; aged with the same care and attention to detail as the estate’s Grand Vin...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Smith Haut Lafitte","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55755078599037,"sku":"A16LEPETITHAUTLAFITTERED-1","price":46.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/LePetitRougeBT.jpg?v=1744463670"},{"product_id":"chateau-smith-haut-lafitte-rouge-grand-cru-classe-pessac-leognan","title":"Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge Grand Cru Classé 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge Grand Cru Classé is a red wine varietal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%) grapes. The wine is matured for 18 months in barrels (60% are new barrels produced at the in-house cooperage), with aging on lees. After being racked a single time, wine is then aged according to its profile. This wine has a dark red, almost black colour. The nose is redolent of fresh fruit (raspberries, cherries, strawberries) and, after swirling in the glass, more complex notes of spice, dried herbs, fennel and a slight floral nuance. The wine is straightforward and well-balanced on the palate, with good concentration and plenty of volume. Despite a substantial quantity of tannin, it remains smooth and rich, with excellent balance between substance, density and freshness. The texture is delicate and precise. The finish is very long and complex with fresh red fruit, liquorice and cinnamon, as well as more terroir-induced notes of smoke and flint. [#intro] Ripe \u0026amp; seductive with a caressing wave of cassis \u0026amp; blackberry flavours through to a cashmere finish...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Smith Haut Lafitte","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55833638928765,"sku":"A17SMITHHAUTLAFITTEROUGE","price":115.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/GrandVinBT_bd86b1d9-3349-4d25-ba1d-6e3efbb822ef.jpg?v=1745364344"},{"product_id":"chateau-les-carmes-haut-brion","title":"Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003eChâteau Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a medium-bodied red Bordeaux from the Pessac-Léognan region of Graves, praised for its elegance, precision and aromatic complexity. It is a unique blend of 41% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured for 24 months in a combination of 65% new barrels and 35% in barrels used once préviously and terracotta amphorae. Unprecedented proportions of Cabernet Franc offer a silky power which is then supported by the intensity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Within this structure, Merlot develops rounded and refined fruitiness: balance is the order of the day, ensuring a style that is complex and delicious in equal measures. [#intro]A unique red wine blend that is complex \u0026amp; delicious in equal measures...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57175370170749,"sku":"A17LESCARMESHAUTBRION","price":130.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/GrandVinBT_33aeb166-aa3e-4167-b76f-15bef144c885.jpg?v=1760631412"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/collections\/Graves_Sauternes_Collection_Image.jpg?v=1540197805","url":"https:\/\/hic.wine\/collections\/graves-pessac-leognan-wine.oembed","provider":"Hic!","version":"1.0","type":"link"}