The Wine

Côtes de Bourg Nectar Vieilles Vignes

The Bassereaus are modern and forward-thinking winemakers, using state-of-the-art technology as well as very capable winemaking skills.  The wines are however classic clarets, with an excellent balance of fruit, structure and oak and offering tremendous style – as well as excellent value.  The wines here have never been better; Philippe and Valérie have worked hard on improving ripeness as well as texture through later picking and also through modern ageing techniques. 

Château de la Grave resides in the centre of the Côtes de Bourg appellation.  Its vineyards occupy 45 hectares surrounding the impressive 16th-century château.  The soils are rich and deep with a mix of limestone and clay with gravel at the surface. These soils, together with the sunny aspect, very much favour the Merlot grape variety.  The Bassereau’s Côtes de Bourg, aptly named Nectar Vieilles Vignes, is made from the domaine’s oldest vines – some are at least 40 years old.  It is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes which have been hand-harvested and aged in new oak barrels and foudre (larger oak barrels) for around 18 months. 

The wine has a slightly floral nose with sweet ripe fruit on the palate with classic plum and blackcurrant flavours intermixed with cedar and spice. It has soft, supple tannins and an excellent finish.  It is a rich wine that can be enjoyed young, but will reward cellaring for between 5-10 years.  As it ages, one can expect complexity to develop on both the nose and palate with spice, tobacco and leather becoming apparent.

It makes an ideal food wine, accompanying a wide range of meat dishes, especially roast lamb, beef, game, casseroles and hard cheeses.