Chateau Gracia 2003 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Chateau Gracia 2003 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

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( regular price: $79.99 )

Gracia is the true, original Garage wine! It is produced inside the picturesque village of St. Emilion in a small space, located on a tiny back alley that is next to a working garage.

The small, stone building is not marked. There are no signs. If you know where it is, you can recognize it best by its old, faded, red, wood door.

The estate is owned by Michel Gracia. Michel is an interesting man who knows everyone and everything about Saint Emilion. In part, because he is also a contractor and stone mason that has worked for many of the top estates, including Chateau Cheval Blanc, Petrus and several other well known properties in the region.

Thanks to prodding by Jean Luc Thunevin of Valandraud and Alain Vauthier of Chateau Ausone, Michel Gracia founded his winery in 1994, when he purchased a small, 1.5 hectare parcel of vines in great terroir that is located close to Chateau Troplong Mondot. The difficult 1997 marked the debut vintage for Gracia.

The following vintage, 1998 began to show the potential for his vineyard. In 2001 Michel Gracia added another 1.3 hectares of vines to his holdings. The new parcels are situated not too far from Chateau Angelus. In 2005, Gracia added another .3 hectares of vines.

Yields are always low here. On average, they are often only 25 hectoliters per hectare and at times, they are even lower! Which explains the levels of concentration and the low quantity of wine available. Malolactic fermentation takes place in 100% new, French oak barrels. The wine of Chateau Gracia is aged in 100% new, French oak barrels. Best enjoyed through 2025.

Wine Advocate: 94
What an amazing wine from then-sculptor, Michel Gracia. A blend of 80% Merlot and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, this 2003 has aged brilliantly, proving that some of these garagiste wines are the stuff of great success stories. A deep plum/purple color is followed by notes of smoky barbecue embers, black currants, blackberries, coffee and chocolate. This fresh, full-bodied, still intact St.-Emilion must have come primarily from limestone soils given its vigor and freshness. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.