Chateau Haut Gaudin
Bordeaux 2019
written by: Joseph F Coniglio
“Le vin est in lubrifiant social” (Wine is a social lubricant.) – French wine saying
This French winery has been owned by the Dubourg family since 1870. It is located about 22 miles south of Bordeaux in the village of Capian. Because it is designated as a CHATEAU wine, by French standards, some of the highest and toughest in the world, the grapes are sourced, grown, aged and bottled on the estate, the property around the ‘castle,’ under the strict eye of the winemaker.
Now, in most of France wines are named by their place of origin rather than the type of grape used. A red Bordeaux is usually made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. But in some cases, depending on where it is produced, this type of wine may also contain Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and in rare cases, Carmenere.
Capian is a commune or a small village located in the department of Gironde which was created during the French Revolution. Interestingly, most of the population own or work in wineries. Named for the estuary which is a major waterway it is in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of Southern France. Gironde is the home of the prefecture of Bordeaux, the major wine producing region in the country. It is also the home of the Cote d’Argent beach, the longest in Europe, as well as the birthplace of Jacques Costeau.
With an oceanic climate, temperatures are moderate with a normal range between 40 – 75 degrees throughout the year. Since the center of life is wine, and the center of wine production is Bordeaux it is easy to see how the district has grown and evolved. It has long been the busiest port in the area with routes established during the time of the Roman Empire and continuing to today. It served as the capital of France several times when the country was invaded by Germany in World War I and II, and also during the Franco-German War of 1870.
Owning and operating a winery is very serious business in this area. There are many of them and most can trace their history back in time for hundreds of years. For a family to keep control of a winery, or any business for that matter, as this one has done is no small feat. The dedication and commitment has to be passed down from one generation to the next and the younger one must therefore commit to a level of quality to honor their ancestors. Such is the case with this winery.
Château Haut Gaudin is a red Bordeaux. Traditionally this is a full bodied wine, complex enough to be characterized by a blend of grapes which produce one of the finest drinks in the world. We were fortunate enough to be drinking the 2019 vintage, one of the best in recent years. The bottle is simple with lettering that catches the eye, kind of a come-on fashion. But this is not a fluke. Pouring the wine into a decanter the aroma is strong boasting of currants and dark fruits. Allow it plenty of time to aerate, we left it for almost two hours and a few more minutes in the glass before drinking. It shows deep purple colors and lighting creates beautiful sparkles in the glass. Long, strong legs kind of let you know this is a wine with flavor. On the palate it is smooth and dry, slightly acidic and with medium/strong intensity. It actually tastes a bit lighter than it looks.
We paired this wine with a grilled, marinated flank steak. Together with the steak this wine made an excellent meal which each guest raved about. The strong flavor of the meat was not overpowered by the wine and the wine itself was able to stand alone after dinner as well. While I may hesitate to serve it with poultry with the possible exception of game birds, it is an excellent accompaniment to beef, venison and other hearty meats. It is also a very good wine for conversation and salted meats.
There are certain things that are well worth repeating. I know I have said this often in the past, but the truest test of quality is a product of which your ancestors would be proud. Now, this family has owned this winery since 1870 as I mentioned above. There is absolutely no reason to think that anything has or should change.
Alcohol – 14%
Price – about $18
Closure – Natural cork
This wine will become a favorite for holidays and very special occasions. Personally, I would give it a rating of 9 out of an unattainable 10 grapes. Simply put, this is a very special wine.
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