94 Points: “Subtle floral and tomato leaf aromas, something herbal and earthy with exotic spices and red berry and cherry fruit - a nice complexity on the nose. Juicy and bright, a hit of acidity and salinity makes the mouth water straight away, tangy and alive, but pure and focussed. Not so deep, more streamlined but crunchy and crisp. Really get a sense of the tension to this wine which is nice. Almost quite dramatic in its brightness and focus. Fresh, fun and fruity. Ends chalky and mineral. Very easy to like this. Not light but streamlined, balanced and elegant. Great definition, energy and focus. Immediately impressive and upfront. Great to drink now/soon. Drinking Window: 2024 – 2034” – Georgina Hindle, Decanter (November 2023)
93 Points: “The 2021 Grand Village, a blend of 48% Merlot (picked on the 17th and 24th of September) and 52% Cabernet Franc (picked on the 2nd of October), is undoubtedly one of the best values in Bordeaux, revealing a fresh, gourmand bouquet with aromas of raspberry, cassis, spring flowers and loamy soils. Medium-bodied, tense and elegant with a supple, velvety texture, it’s perfectly balanced with powdery tannins and a long, mouthwatering, sleek finish that enhances its drinkability. While it offers plenty of immediate charm, it also has the structure to age over the next decade. Drink Date: 2024 – 2044” – Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker’s Wine
Advocate (February 2024)
92 Points: “The 2021 Grand Village (Lafleur) is stunningly good in the vintage. Gorgeous ripe black cherry and red plums give way to a chalky minerality as well as complex floral and violet notes that are something to behold. It's deep, medium-bodied, has terrific mid-palate depth, lots of salinity, and ripe tannins. It plays in the elegant, streamlined, focused style of the vintage but has impressive depth and concentration.” – Jeb Dunnuck (April 2024)
FROM THE IMPORTER
Producer: Société
Civile du Château Lafleur
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-Region: Fronsac
Appellation: Bordeaux Supérieur
Farming: Biodynamic
Soils: Clay-limestone
Varietals: 81% Merlot, 19% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc)
Vineyards & Viticulture
Founded in 1650, the château covers 50 hectares of land, of which 20 hectares are vineyards planted on gentle slopes and on the plateau.
Harvest & Vinification
Hand harvested with strict selection. Fermented in
stainless steel and concrete tanks with soft maceration. Aged 12 months in barrels (30% new, 40% one year old, 30% two year old).
ABOUT CHÂTEAU GRAND VILLAGE
Château Grand Village is owned by Jacques and Sylvie Guinaudeau, who also own Château Lafleur and benefits handsomely from its association with the iconic estate. With a history that stretches back centuries, it was founded in 1650 by Jacques Verdery, a direct ancestor of the Guinaudeau family. Grand Village is situated just north of Fronsac in Mouillac and bottled
under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. Planted entirely to massale selection from Lafleur, the vineyard is farmed biodynamically. It receives the same care and attention to detail that produces its stablemates.
Jacques and Sylvie, joined by their son and daughter-in-law Baptiste and Julie, have taken this estate in a bold new direction, crafting this wine with the same means and spirit applied to Lafleur. Grapes are grown on 20 hectares of clay, limestone, and gravel soil similar to that found in St-Emilion. Reds are planted to about 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, while three hectares of white grapes are planted to 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon. After careful hand harvest and grape selection, wines are fermented in concrete and stainless steel and then moved to oak for aging - of which about 30% is new for the red wine.
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