> Tasting comments

• Château Belles Graves 1997 : Beautiful vintage, balanced, supple and fruity, ready to drink now, which is coming up to full maturity. It could also be kept for another 2 to 3 years.

• Château Belles Graves 1998 : Excellent vintage which is beginning to show its richness of aroma and its structure. It can be drunk now as long as is allowed to breathe beforehand. It would perhaps be better to wait another 2 or 3 years.

On the eve of the grape harvest, just like each autumn, I have the pleasure of presenting the wines we have available to you for the end of the year. With a few notes, which I hope, will help with your choice - Xavier PITON

• Château Belles Graves 1999 : A lovely vintage with powerful tannins and flavours of red fruits. Excellent wine for ageing; should be consumed well in advance of the 1998.

• Château Belles-Graves 2002 : To drink from today. A fine balance between fine and discreet tannins and the aromas of well-ripened red fruits. Selection GUIDE HACHETTE 2006 : one star. “ A success. A bold wine which is deeply coloured – with both rich and melting qualities in the mouth – with flavourful tannins”. ( P. DUSSERT-GERBER)

• Château Belles-Graves 2003 : Another good vintage which is great to drink now; it has more distinct tannins than the 2004. it represents a good balance between red fruits and a good earthy flavour. “Well-ripened black fruits. A powerful wine with good strong tannins, which remains silky. A rich and fleshy flavour.” (Guide DUSSERT GERBER) Recommended dish: a rich rabbit stew.

• Château Belles-Graves 2004 : This wine is beginning to reveal its charm through its roundness and its freshness of fruit. May be drunk today, or be kept for a few years more. Selection GUIDE HACHETTE 2008.
“A beautiful dark red colour, delicately perfumed (raspberry, spices), with a fine structure, ample and delicate – strong in the mouth” (GUIDE DUSSERT GERBER 2008).

• Château Belles-Graves 2005 : “Rich in colour as in flavour, with notes of very ripe blackcurrant and spices, with an intense and persistent earthy nose – a wine which has evolved and will evolve beautifully.” (Guide DUSSERT GERBER 2009).
Just a little more patience – at least two or three years. But tasting is still very promising. A part of your cellar which cannot be ignored.

• Château Belles-Graves 2006 : We have just completed the bottling, and this wine therefore requires a while to rest. It will be a fine wine, with a very present fruitiness and the long-lasting flavour provided by our soil.

• Les Terrasses de Belles-Graves : With preserving the aromatic characteristics of its elder brother, this wine possesses a more supple structure which allows it to be consumed from now. A wine which is pleasurable to share with friends or for a gastronomic aperitif with a few meaty nibbles.

Evolution of our vintages :

• To drink without delay : 1993, 1992, 1991, 1987, 1986, 1985

• At their peak : 2002, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1994, 1990, 1989, 1988

• To drink or to keep : 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1998, 1995

• Vintages to keep : 2005

For all information relating to older vintages, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Château BELLES-GRAVES - 33500 Néac - Tél. + 33 (0) 557 510 961 - Fax + 33 (0) 557 510 141 - Email : x.piton@belles-graves.com

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