The colour is deep ruby. On the nose charmingly fruity. Prunes, cherries and the ever-present blackberries come to mind. In the mouth not much of a body, with a unpleasantly bitter and drying finish. The aftertaste is medium long. When you start eating, the flaws in the mouth disappear and the appealing sensations on the nose make the overall experience with this wine very enjoyable.
This wine is made with 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc grapes. The grapes are harvest by machine and the wine aged 75% in vats and 25% in barrels.
The wines of Saint-Émilion on the Right Bank wine-growing region of Bordeaux were classified in 1955, 100 years later than the ones on the Left Bank. Unlike the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 that covers the wines from the Médoc and Graves regions, the Saint-Émilion list is updated every 10 years or so.
The fifth classification of St.-Émilion wine (announced in September 2006) was heavily contested and it took years to sort the legal proceedings out.
The 2012 classification was better organised, but still some producers (losers) filed complaints. The 2012 classification comprises 18 “Premier Grand Cru classé” and 64 “Grand Cru classé”.
Over 200 other Saint-Émilion wines carry the description “Grand Cru”, however this designation is awarded under the basic appellation rules and is not part of the formal 1955 classification. Wines in this category are not seen as being of comparable quality to the Grand Cru classés. It is the case with this bottle. A fact I personally find misleading. I consider myself an above average wine consumer, but I became aware of this particularity only by writing this post. This confusion between “Grand Cru” and “Grand Cru classé”, together with the ongoing legal battles, makes me suspect that the Saint-Émilion classification is quite messy.
Fortunately, consumers are more focused on what is in the bottle than on what is on the label according to the Saint-Émilion classification. A fact reflected in the prices of the wines.
I bought this bottle at Coop for 19.95 CHF.
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Type: Red
Vintage: 2016
Producer: Chateau Haut-Lavignere
Price range: Medium (15-30 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 3/5