Ch Haut-Bergey 2006

This is an estate that I had tasted a number of times, but cannot remember exactly which vintages and when I had tasted them. Fortunately the most recent one was a few weeks ago at home. This estate in Pessac-Leognan, the more prestigious part of Graves, can trace its history back to 1500 when it was called La Maison Noble de Pontey.The vineyards were expanded to 100 hectares around 1700, but fell into non-production the next century. a new chateau was built in 1850 and in 1991 new owners turned the estate around, producing both red and white wines. The 2006 red was a deep ruby with a sweet cordial-like blackcurrant nose (in fact rather like Ribena). The palate was savoury with berry fruit notes, marred by a touch of alcohol heat, but well supported by an acid backbone.