Château Grand Village, Rouge, Bordeaux Supérieur, 2023
Omri explained 2023 is "not a solaire vintage, it’s not a “classical” cool vintage, it’s not another hybrid vintage like 2016, 2018 or 2020 with a wet, cold spring and then a very hot, dry summer… The best we’ve come up with so far is it’s an extreme vintage with no real extremes… It felt extreme when we were working in the vineyard, it was challenging and complex, but when we look back at the data, it was quite unremarkable.” The wines they have produced certainly are remarkable and very much appeal to our palates. They are dense, but less overly fruity than recent greats like 2019 and 2022. They have wonderful aromatics and bright, tense cores of fruit framed by gloriously ripe tannins packed with detail. It's a masterful range, which sits right up there with the very best from these estates. All the Merlots from Perrieres have been utilised in Grand Village this year. Salty, tangy, high-definition Merlot fruit. Dark berries, flowers and freshness. Very vivid and pixelated. A dancing Grand Village that puts freshness to the fore. Wonderful energy on the finish – lots of tension and salty fruits.
critic reviews
This is totally blooming now it's in bottle, powerful but accessible, dense rose petals, raspberry, damson fruits, juicy acidities, and I thoroughly suggest getting hold of it. Higher levels of Merlot this year than usual because all of the Cabernet Franc is in Les Perrières, which means you are getting great quality Merlot that normally heads into Les Perrières, and these Merlot have density, depth and muscle with a softness that is ready to go. Exemplary Bordeaux - but this will go also to Vin de France from 2025, a real shame for AOC Bordeaux. One point upscore but thoroughly suggest not waiting - enjoy this vivid bright fruit.
The 2023 Grand Village has a refined bouquet with blackberry and raspberry fruit, very harmonious and delineated, certainly less rustic than you would have found 10 years ago. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp line of acidity, quite sapid in the mouth with a slightly chalky texture toward the finish. This is a delightful Grand Village that should give at least 10 years' drinking pleasure.
A blend of 91% Merlot and 9% Bouchet (Cabernet Franc), the 2023 Grand Village has a deep garnet-purple color. It shoots from the glass with notes of iron ore, black olives, crushed rocks, and fragrant soil, giving way to a core of fresh black plums and boysenberries. The full-bodied palate has compelling tension, with loads of minerally sparks coming of the black fruit flavors, supported by a grainy texture, finishing long and savory.
Aromas of cassis, blueberries, dark wild berries and flowers introduce the 2023 Grand Village, a medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy wine with a deep core of fruit that's framed by powdery tannins, concluding with a long, saline finish. As readers may remember, Grand Village is one of the best values in Bordeaux, and this year, it exceeds expectations. It's one of the sleepers of the vintage. This is a blend of 91% Merlot (picked between the 11th and 14th of September) and 9% Cabernet Franc (picked on the 20th of September).