GRAND CRUS ❘ FRENCH WINE
Following common practice at international fairs, the wines sent in from different regions of France had to be tasted by a jury. Of this tasting only an amusing anecdote survives: the unfinished bottles were sent to the cafeterias of Paris’ hospitals “to revive the ill, unaccustomed to Château-Lafite wines,” according to author Mr. Saint-Amant. The jury’s winners were overshadowed by a history-making classification: the 1855 grands crus. To prepare for the World’s Fair in record time, the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce was tasked with organising “a complete and satisfying presentation of the department’s wines”. The Chamber president collected six bottles from each estate. For the sake of fairness, he had standardised labels created by the Chamber of Commerce, which were printed with the names of the château, town, and owner, added to each bottle. He then asked the Brokers’ Union, located near the Bordeaux stock exchange, to provide a “list of all the red classed-growths in the department” and “the classification regarding ❯❯
STAY AMONG THE VINES Château La Tour Carnet, Quatrième Grand Cru Classé in Haut-Médoc, is steeped in history as far back as the 12th-century.
It is easy to forget that for many of the nobles in the Médoc region, the Hundred Years’ War ended in defeat. The horseman for whom this château is named was loyal to the English and only ceded to the Valois troops after a bitter fight. The 12th-century moat and rectangular keep are reminders of these medieval exploits, and give the estate a unique historic cachet. Since 1999, La Tour Carnet has belonged to
Bernard Magrez, an iconic figure in the wine world and owner of 43 vineyards, including three other grands crus located in the most prestigious Bordeaux appellations. A shrewd expert, Magrez quickly began improving the vineyard and winery facilities by adopting some of the most advanced technology, including the use of drones to analyse plots to assign the most suitable grape varieties. Since 2013, the visionary Magrez has established a
ABOUT THE VINEYARD The vineyard (252ha of vines) gives prominence to Merlot, which occupies the western portion located on a small clay and limestone hill – a rare occurrence in Médoc’s geological profile. The gently sloping hillsides are reserved for Cabernet.
private collection of more than 80 varietals in order to observe how well they resist the effects of climate change, and if they might replace current grape varieties in the event of a marked change in sun, temperature, or humidity in the region. Here, Merlot is vinified in concrete vats in order to preserve and intensify the fruit aromas, while wood is used for the more robust Cabernet. During élévage, wood envelops and brings out the fruit to obtain wines that are expressive and generous, and as equally suited to ageing as they are to being enjoyed young.
GETTING THERE Château La Tour Carnet is located within the commune of Saint-Laurent-Médoc, about 31 miles (50 km) north of Bordeaux, or a ten- minute drive from Pauillac.
ADDRESS Château La Tour Carnet Darrous 33 112 Saint-Laurent-Médoc
CONTACT
+33 (0)5 57 26 38 34 visiteschateaux@
bernard-magrez.com luxurywineexperience. com
Feb/Mar 2023 FRANCE TODAY ❘ 67
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
