“Château de Reignac is a wine of great complexity, revealing subtle aromas of red and black fruit, liquorice and spice. On the palate it is ample and structured, with silky tannins and a lovely length on the finish.” – Robert Parker
Château Reignac is a château located in the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, on the right bank of the Garonne, in the Gironde département of France.
The Château Reignac estate covers around 200 hectares, of which 65 hectares are vines planted on clay-limestone slopes. The varieties grown are mainly Merlot (75%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Cabernet Franc (3%), with Petit Verdot (2%) completing the blend. The vineyard is farmed using environmentally friendly methods and the production has been certified organic since 2010.
Château Reignac produces wines of great quality, often compared to grands crus classés.
One particularly remembers the tasting that caused a stir in 2009:
The wines are aged in French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, depending on the vintage. Château Reignac’s reds are renowned for their balance, their aromatic complexity and their ageing potential.
Château Reignac also has a rich and fascinating history. The present château dates from the 18th century and was built on the ruins of a medieval fortress. The estate was bought in 1990 by Yves Vatelot, who undertook major renovation and modernisation work to restore the château and the vineyard to their full splendour.
Today, Château Reignac is open to visitors, who can explore the estate, tour the château and taste its wines.
On to the tasting:
A dark robe — it makes it clear that the tasting will be an interesting experience and that we should expect a strong wine.
On the nose it’s an explosion: spice and red fruit come pouring out.
On the palate the spices are well and truly present and, straight away, the roundness of the aromas floods the palate. The tannins are powerful — the robe and its scent had warned us, after all! There’s no little spike of acidity, which sometimes bothers me; the balance on the palate is all the more controlled, and I have the feeling this point has been worked on with particular care.
Spices and a characteristic length, all in perfectly mastered balance, undoubtedly make it a great wine. At under €30, this wine will surprise your friends.
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