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+--- Thread: Chateu Bigaroux (/thread-6147.html)
- kalle - 07-28-2000
Has anyone heard of a Bordeux Grand Cru called "Chateau Bigaroux"? And in that case where is it?
- tomstevenson - 07-28-2000
There's a Ch. Franc Bigoroux in St. Emilion. Please look closer at the label and give some more information, preferably and address.
Tom
- kalle - 08-02-2000
Thanks Tom!
The problem is that there isn't much more info on the bottle, just "S:t Emilion Grand cru Ch Bigaroux". The small label on the back of the bottle is missing, for instance. So I don't know what to think. Can it be a forgery? It was bought in a tex-free shop as a gift by a friend of mine.
- tomstevenson - 08-02-2000
Hi Kalle. I've found it, Bigaroux that is, rather than Franc Bigoroux. It's not a fake. It's genuine. Never encountered the wine myself, but there are literally hundreds of Grand Cru wines declared in St Emilion every year. Grand Cru does not mean much in this area (whereas it does in, say, Burgundy). The real quality wines in St Emilion are the 15 Premier Grand Cru wines, of which two (Ausone and Cheval Blanc) lord it over the rest. Next come 80-odd Grand Cru Classé, which include a lot of terrific wines, but also some under-achievers. The term Grand Cru in St Emilion merely indicates an extra 0.5% alcohol and a slightly lower yield (the two go hand-in-hand anyway), and can be applied for by any producer in the appellation. In this respect, the difference between St Emilion and St Emilion Grand Cru is very similar to that between Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur. The reference I found it in is dated 1990 (none of my uptodate references mention this chatea!), so the information might be a bit dated, but back then the chateau was owned by a M. Bernard Dizier, who had purchased it in 1975. The vineyard consisted of 9 hectares (approx 22 acres) planted with 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Production was 70,000 bottles, of which 80% claimed Grand Cru status and the wine was fermented in a mix of stainless-steel and cement vats. A small amount was aged in oak, but M Dizier claimed that most of his regular customers preferred not to have the oak character.
Hope that gives you some insight.
All the best
Tom
- kalle - 08-02-2000
Thanks Tom!
Super! The info was far more than I had hoped for, incredible.
So the wine I have is dominated by merlot (as tradition offers in S:t Emilion) and probably not aged in oak. I'll let you know how it turned out when I drink it!
Sincerely yours
Kalle