PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Château La Garance carries a genuinely personal origin story — Alain Thiénot purchased the property in Graves in 1986, around the same time he acquired the more prominent Château Rahoul, and when preparing to release its first vintages, he named the estate after his own daughter, Garance. Since 1988, La Garance has formed an integral part of Château Rahoul's broader vineyard holdings, benefiting from the same ambitious investment Thiénot made across those properties. The estate is now part of the Dourthe portfolio.
Graves' distinctive soils — gravel mixed with sand and clay — are widely credited with producing a genuinely elegant, distinctive style of Bordeaux red, typically lighter-bodied and quicker to mature than wines from the Haut-Médoc, while still carrying real aging potential. The appellation is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends redolent of dark cherry, savory spice, chocolate, and a distinctive minerality.
Wine-Searcher's aggregated critic data places the 2017 vintage at 83/100, based on two professional reviews. That tasting note describes "beautiful ruby colour with a youthful appearance," a "fully mature nose combining small ripe red berries with a discreet oaky, spicy character," with "a smooth attack and well-established aromas with a pleasant harmony right through to the finish" on the palate. A customer review of the same vintage calls it an "excellent" wine showing "a complete bouquet of red fruit," describing it as "very nice combination, well balanced." For genuine house-style context, the estate's broader Graves Rouge program is typically described as opening "on the bouquet with chocolate notes, and a hint of smoky character typical of these Graves soils," rounded and fleshy on the palate, with "a full-flavoured" character culminating in "an appealing finish." This is a genuinely well-mannered, classic Graves red — real elegance from soils distinctly different from the rest of the Médoc.
Chateau La Garance 2017 Graves Rouge is produced in the Graves appellation of Bordeaux, France. Alain Thiénot purchased the property in 1986, around the same time he acquired Château Rahoul, naming the estate after his daughter Garance. Since 1988, La Garance has been an integral part of Château Rahoul's vineyard holdings, and the property is now part of the Dourthe portfolio.
The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot (proportions vary by vintage), grown on Graves' characteristic soils of gravel mixed with sand and clay, aged in vats. Bottled at 12.5-14.5% ABV, 750ml.
Wine-Searcher aggregated critics — 83/100 (2017 vintage, 2 critic reviews):
"Beautiful ruby colour with a youthful appearance. Fully mature nose combining small ripe red berries with a discreet oaky, spicy character. On the palate, a smooth attack and well-established aromas with a pleasant harmony right through to the finish."
Customer review (2017 vintage):
"Excellent. A complete bouquet of red fruit. Very nice combination, well balanced."
Grand Wine Cellar (house-style context, related vintage):
"The Graves soils of gravel mixed with sand and clay produce a unique and elegant style of Bordeaux Rouge. Aromatics: Notes of fresh red fruit, lifted with a slight smokiness. Palate: Balanced, fruity and long."
TTSommelier (house-style context):
"The wine opens on the bouquet with chocolate notes, and a hint of smoky character typical of these Graves soils. Rounded and fleshy on the palate, this full-flavoured wine culminates in an appealing finish."
Nose
Beautiful ruby color, with a youthful appearance. Small ripe red berries lead, joined by a discreet oaky, spicy character, alongside fresh red fruit and a hint of smoke.
Palate
Smooth, with well-established aromas carrying real harmony, developing chocolate notes, rounded and fleshy texture.
Finish
Pleasant and appealing, closing balanced, fruity, and long.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Graves, Bordeaux, France |
| Variety | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Producer | Chateau La Garance (Dourthe) |
| Origin | Purchased by Alain Thiénot, 1986; named for his daughter |
| Related Estate | Château Rahoul — integral part since 1988 |
| Soils | Gravel, sand, and clay |
| Critics | Wine-Searcher aggregated 83/100 |
| Style / Identity | A smooth, well-mannered, mature Graves red — genuine elegance from distinctive terroir |
| Aromas & Flavors | Small ripe red berries, discreet oak, chocolate, fresh fruit |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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