Château Bolaire 2011

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Remarkably well-crafted: a distinctive nose with notes of blackcurrant and blackberry jam, gunflint, and vanilla-tinged oak; the palate expresses the same aromatic profile, velvety, fresh, balanced, and full of charm.

About the estate:

What makes this wine unique is the high percentage of Petit Verdot in its blend—typically around 40%. This grape variety reaches its full potential on the Palus terroir, which dominates this 5-hectare estate located on a former island in the Garonne River that was connected to the mainland during the Middle Ages. Full of character, the wines display exuberant aromas, generally very ripe fruit, skillfully balanced oak, and a texture that is both powerful and silky, always balanced by an elegant freshness. The exuberance and refinement unique to the estate are evident in the 2015 vintage, which is powerful, complex, deep, vibrant, and energetic.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Planting on well-drained marshy soil, the Bolaire vineyard is unique in its emphasis on Petit Verdot, which makes up 54% of this wine, complemented by Merlot (37%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep color with violet highlights; an intense, fruit-forward nose with hints of black cherry and blackcurrant; a lively and powerful attack; well-integrated tannins that remain firm on the finish. “Solid as a rock” and already harmonious.

About the estate:

Businessman Vincent Mulliez, who passed away in 2010, had purchased Château Bolaires (Bordeaux Supérieur) in the southern part of the Médoc, as well as Château Belle Vue and Château Gironville (Haut-Médoc), in 2004; these estates have since become reliable investments. His heirs have taken up the torch.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

In the Macau marshes, in the locality known as Le Bout de l’Île, the team at Château Belle-Vue (Haut-Médoc) crafts a superbly made Bordeaux Supérieur. Its distinctive character stems from a significant proportion of Petit Verdot (60% of the blend), which gives the wine a perfectly balanced spicy and minty character. Produced from a late harvest, with low-temperature winemaking (to extract color and fruit expression) and barrel aging (30% new oak)—which can sometimes be a bit too dominant at the expense of the fruit—the most recent vintages stand out for their seductive profile and long finish. This estate is unquestionably one of the appellation’s safest bets!

Wine Spectator