Chateau Laville Mahon-Laville Bordeaux Superieur

Tasting Notes

Good colour, a classic nose and ripe, supple fruit on the palate with the sort of grip on the finish that reminds you that you are drinking a claret.

The 14-hectare Château Laville in Sauternes is Jean-Christophe Barbe's family property. Professor of...

Oenology at Bordeaux University, he is mostly famous for his outstanding Sauternes (Decanter 2015 Sweet Bordeaux Trophy over £15), but also produces some stunning reds, albeit on a fairly small scale. Although the domaine is mainly planted with white grapes, Jean-Christophe has set aside 1.3 hectare vineyard of red varieties, which is sold as 'Château Mahon-Laville'. Thanks to the team of pickers that are constantly on hand at Château Laville (to perform the various passes through the vineyard required to make top Sauternes), Jean-Christophe is able to wait and pick the Merlot and Cabernet grapes when they are ripe (which can be an issue in this part of Bordeaux), rather then when he has pickers available . 'Les Graves de Mahon-Laville' comes from 40 year old vines grown on gravel soils in 2.5 hectares of vineyard that are classified as Graves.