Château Tirecul La Gravière, Ch. Tirecul La Gravière 1994

This is wine is made from one of the most ancient premier cru vineyard sites in Monbazillac. The Château is run by husband and wife Claudie and Bruno Bilancini whose dedication to quality is astounding. Monbazillac is often referred to as ‘poor man’s Sauternes’ (Sauternes is one of the most premium and famous dessert wine regions in France and probably the world). This wine however outshines anything i’ve tried from the region and dare I say even from Sauternes. The most defining quality about wines from both these regions is the perfect conditions to attain noble rot or botrytis in the vineyards. This is a very special condition that shrivels the grapes, increases intensity, sweetness, acidity and complexity. It is time consuming to harvest as you have to pick only the bunches that are botrytised to the correct level. Most producers will pass through the vineyards a handful of times. Claudi and Bruno pass through 4 to 5 times per day! They in fact harvest grape by grape to ensure only those ripened and effected to the perfect degree are selected.