Description

Chateau Haura Graves is one of the more underappreciated Estates in the Professor Denis Dubourdieu stable. Haura is on gravelly hills in Southern Graves. The hills host 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 30% Merlot. Haura is a wine to drink in the medium term, 7-10 years from vintage is good.

Denis Dubourdieu a professor of Oenology at Bordeaux University. At the same time, he consulted many Bordeaux estates. Upto 85 at one point. These include: Haut Bailly, Giscours, du Tertre, Carbonnieux, Batailley, Pichon Lalande, La Lagune, and Chateau Margaux for Pavillon Blanc. Add to that Chateau dYquem and Lafaurie-Peyraguey (of which he was a minor shareholder).

Dubourdieu is directly responsible for many vineyard and cellars practices. This has led to increased quality in white, red and sweet Bordeaux. In 2016, Denis Dubourdieu received the distinguished Legion d’Honneur from the French government. In the same year, he was Man of the Year from Decanter magazine.

Chateau Haura Graves 2016 Wine notes

Graves

The home of the original Claret that the English fell in love with. Graves gets its name from the large amounts of gravel in the vineyard which gives a lighter, more aromatic style of Bordeaux. Although it is on the Left Bank it more often lines up with the Right Bank on vintage preferences. Graves is capable and often excels at making white wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. They are often barrel-aged and live as long as any white in the world.

Cabernet Sauvignon

The noble variety of Bordeaux’s left bank. Firm tannins, a streak of acidity and punctuated by flavours of cassis, violets, spice and leather. The best examples can age for the long term. Although Cabernet does often require blending with Merlot, Cabernet Franc or Shiraz to fix the hole it has in its middle palate.

Merlot

It gets a tough time most of the places it is grown. But in Pomerol and Saint-Emilion Merlot not only dominates but makes some of the best wines in the world. Perfume, silky and plush. Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon season the wines with structure and acid but in some places, like Petrus, they are almost not needed.

2016

A vintage of two extremes which counteracted each other and we ended up with one of the best vintages we’ve seen in a while.