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. The 2019 vintage was genuinely favorable for Graves reds specifically — Jeff Leve's vintage report on the region notes that "2019 Graves red wines offer a lot of charm with character," as both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot ripened well that year, producing characteristics similar to some Pessac-Léognan wines.
We don't have an independently published tasting note specific to this 2019 vintage, so rather than borrow language from a different year, we'll let this particular bottle speak for itself once it's open. For genuine house-style context, TTSommelier's tasting of the wine describes it opening "on the bouquet with chocolate notes, and a hint of smoky character typical of these Graves soils," the palate "rounded and fleshy," "full-flavoured," culminating "in an appealing finish." Grand Wine Cellar's tasting of an adjacent vintage found "notes of fresh red fruit, lifted with a slight smokiness" on the nose, the palate "balanced, fruity and long." This is genuinely approachable, well-crafted Graves red — real elegance from soils genuinely distinct from the rest of the Médoc, in a vintage the region's own critics considered a real success.
Chateau La Garance 2019 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 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (proportions vary by vintage — recent releases have run from roughly 60% Cabernet Sauvignon/40% Merlot to 85% Merlot/15% Cabernet Sauvignon), grown on Graves' characteristic soils of gravel mixed with sand and clay, aged in vats.
No independently published tasting note is confirmed specifically for the 2019 vintage at this time.
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2019 Graves vintage report):
"2019 Graves red wines offer a lot of charm with character. The vintage favors the red wines, as both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes ripened well, helping to provide similar characteristics as those found in Pessac Leognan."
TTSommelier (extended tasting note, house style):
"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."
Grand Wine Cellar (extended tasting note, house style):
"Aromatics: Notes of fresh red fruit, lifted with a slight smokiness. Palate: Balanced, fruity and long."
Reflects confirmed house-style character; specific notes for the 2019 vintage are not independently published.
Nose
Chocolate and smoky mineral character lead, joined by fresh red fruit and dark cherry.
Palate
Rounded and fleshy, full-flavored, with balanced fruit carrying genuine length.
Finish
Appealing and smooth, closing with lingering fruit and gentle smokiness.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | Graves, Bordeaux, France |
| Variety | Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vintage | 2019 |
| 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 |
| Style / Identity | An elegant, approachable Graves red — genuinely favorable vintage for the appellation |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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