Château Gazin’s vineyard covers 26 hectares in a single holding on the upper terrace of the Pomerol plateau, adjacent to Château Pétrus. The terroir consists of Günzian gravel on the surface and a subsoil of blue and green clay with iron oxides — a clay-gravel composition that ensures a regular and moderate supply of water to the vine, characteristic of great terroirs. The vineyard is planted with 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, all harvested by hand.

With the vintage 2011, we return toward the more classic wines and we turn away from the exceptional vintages of the years 2005, 2009, and 2010. Nevertheless, the 2011 is not without its merit. Harvests were early — the Merlots came in from September 5th to the 20th, and the Cabernet Francs and Sauvignons came in on September 26th and 27th — a mature and heavy harvest with a yield of 43 hl per hectare. A very careful selection allowed us to produce a very full-bodied wine that is rather meaty and tannic.

The wine’s appearance is dark and brilliant bordeaux. 2011 features strong tannic notes, with red and black berry aromas: sour cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant, a slightly toasted smell, winy and peppery, with a hint of caramel. The taste is silky, rather full, with a nice lingering effect, and a clearly tannic finish that doesn’t overpower and will soften with age.