Château Belgrave
Encyclopedia
Château Belgrave is a winery
in the Haut-Médoc appellation
of the Bordeaux
region of France
. The wine produced here was classified as one of eighteen Cinquièmes Crus (Fifth Growths) in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
. At the time of classification, the winery was called Château Coutenceau, and it was later renamed by a British owner living in Belgravia
, London
. Thus, the name does in fact not come from the Cabernet Sauvignon
-friendly gravel
which is common in this part of Bordeaux and which gave the subregion Graves
its name.
Château Belgrave is located in the commune Saint-Laurent-Médoc
, immediately to the west of the border with Saint-Julien-Beychevelle
. It is thus situated in a sub-regional appellation, but close to the border of a communal appellation, in similarilty to its Fifth Growth Saint neighbours in Saint-Laurent, Château Camensac and Château La Tour Carnet
. Its immediate neighbour over the commune border in Saint-Julien is Château Lagrange
.
The vineyard of 61 ha is planted with the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon
(50%), Merlot
(42%), Cabernet Franc
(5%) and Petit Verdot
(3%).
Château Belgrave produces a second wine
called Diane de Belgrave, introduced with the 1987 vintage.
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
in the Haut-Médoc appellation
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
of the Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The wine produced here was classified as one of eighteen Cinquièmes Crus (Fifth Growths) in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855
The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 resulted from the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, when Emperor Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines which were to be on display for visitors from around the world...
. At the time of classification, the winery was called Château Coutenceau, and it was later renamed by a British owner living in Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Thus, the name does in fact not come from the Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
-friendly gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
which is common in this part of Bordeaux and which gave the subregion Graves
Graves
Graves is an important subregion of the Bordeaux wine region. Graves is situated on the left bank of the Garonne river, in the upstream part of the region, southeast of the city Bordeaux and stretch over...
its name.
Château Belgrave is located in the commune Saint-Laurent-Médoc
Saint-Laurent-Médoc
Saint-Laurent-Médoc is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, immediately to the west of the border with Saint-Julien-Beychevelle
Saint-Julien-Beychevelle
Saint-Julien-Beychevelle is a commune on the left bank of the Garonne estuary in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-Wine:...
. It is thus situated in a sub-regional appellation, but close to the border of a communal appellation, in similarilty to its Fifth Growth Saint neighbours in Saint-Laurent, Château Camensac and Château La Tour Carnet
Château La Tour Carnet
Château La Tour Carnet is a Bordeaux wine estate in the appellation Haut-Médoc. The wine produced here was classified as one of ten Quatrièmes Crus in the historic Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, at the time known by the name of Carnet.-History:The estate has origins in the early...
. Its immediate neighbour over the commune border in Saint-Julien is Château Lagrange
Château Lagrange
Château Lagrange is a winery in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. Château Lagrange is also the name of the red wine produced by this property...
.
The vineyard of 61 ha is planted with the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
(50%), Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
(42%), Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...
(5%) and Petit Verdot
Petit verdot
Petit Verdot is a variety of red wine grape, principally used in classic Bordeaux blends. It ripens much later than the other varieties in Bordeaux, often too late, so it fell out of favour in its home region. When it does ripen, it is added in small amounts to add tannin, colour and flavour to the...
(3%).
Château Belgrave produces a second wine
Second wine
Second wine is a term commonly associated with Bordeaux wine to refer to a second label wine made from cuvee not selected for use in the Grand vin or first label...
called Diane de Belgrave, introduced with the 1987 vintage.