2000 Château Les Gravières, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Cuvée Prestige, Bordeaux, France, Saint-Emilion

The estate has been family owned since it was first created at the end of the 19th Century. Grandfather, Pierre-Henri Descrambe enlarged it and he passed his love for the vine to Denis Barraud, his grandchild. He is in charge on this domain since 1971.

The estate now consists of 36 hectares with vineyards in all levels of the classification.

The vineyard of Les Gravières is only 4.5 Ha in the communes of St Sulpice de Faleyrens and St Laurent des Combes. Sandy gravel, deep gravels, cool ferriferous sub-soil planted with 100% Merlot. The vines have an average age of 38 to 45 years with a planting density of 5500 plants/Ha. Vineyards grassed and drained.

Deleafing and green harvesting in June and August, manual removal of spurs, soil improvement using organic materials exclusively. Manual harvesting with rigorous selection on tables. The yield is very low with an average of 35 Hl/Ha.

Fermentation in thermostatically controlled stainless steel vats, cold maceration at 6° for 8-10 days before fermentation, long (>30 days) vat fermentation, délestage (the juice is removed and poured back over the cap to moisten) and pigeage (the cap is broken and forced into the juice), malolactic fermentation in new barrels. Aging on lees. Aging in 100% new barrels for 16 months. This wine is considered as the most prestigious wine of the domain.