Source: Dallas Morning News
January 3o, 2013
By Rebecca Murphy
Chateau de Chantegrive, Graves AOC 2010
Graves is an appellation within the Bordeaux wine region in southwestern France. It gets its name from the gravelly, rocky, pebbly soil, which turns out to be great for growing wine grapes. It’s not too fertile, so the vines are naturally limited in production, which can mean smaller grapes with concentrated flavors. It’s also well-drained, so the vines get necessary water, but their roots don’t stay wet, something grapevines don’t like.
The Graves appellation produces red and white wines. This white is a 50-50 blend of sémillon and sauvignon blanc. The sémillon contributes round, ripe apple, fig and waxy fruit, and sauvignon blanc contributes crisp, citrusy, herbal fruit. All those flavors come together in a light body with zesty acidity that will complement fresh oysters or grilled shellfish.
The history of Chateau de Chantegrive began in the 1960s when Henri and Françoise Leveque bought a house and over time began acquiring vineyards in the Graves area. The next generation is now involved in the family operation, which encompasses more than 200 acres producing both red and white wines.
Tags: Bordeaux, Chateau de Chantegrive, France, Graves, Rebecca Murphy, Wine of the Week