Château La Gorce

Village:
Blaignan
Appellation:
Medoc
40 ha
Grower:
Emmanuel Martin
Website:
https://www.chateaulagorce.com

The Medoc appellation sits at the northern end of the Medoc peninsula. The proximity of this narrow strip of land to the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, which is buffeted by pine forests, creates a very favorable climate for the Bordeaux grape varieties. There are 14 communes included in the Medoc appellation, and there is a great diversity of soils among and within them, ranging from sandy to chalky to clay, often with layers of fine gravel or pebbles.

Emmanuel Martin grew up in a wine-producing family that had a large estate in the Entre-deux-Mers region of Bordeaux. In 2018, he left the family domain to purchase Chateau La Gorce, an estate in the Medoc created in 1822. The 40 hectare estate is in the village of Blaignan, in the area known as “Canteloup.” From the beginning, Emmanuel farmed his vineyard organically and his estate was certified in 2021. His 40 hectares have a patchwork of parcels with soils including both blue clay which he feels is ideal for Merlot, and outcrops of limestone similar to Saint Estephe. Atypical in the Medoc, Chateau La Gorce is endowed with a large underground cellar which offers Emmanuel ample room and an ideal environment for vinification and storage.

La Gorce

The wine is typically a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. After slowly pressing his grapes in a small basket press, (Emmanuel employs two of them) the parcels are vinified separately in tank. The wine is then aged for a year in a barrels of 225L and 500L An assemblage is made from selected barrels.

Region: Bordeaux

The city of Bordeaux and its surrounding viticultural area are located in southwest France, in the Gironde. The area is formed around two great rivers; the Garonne which flows from the Pyrénées and the Dordogne which flows from the Massif Central. The rivers meet just north of the city of Bordeaux and flow into the Gironde estuary which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The regulating influence of the ocean and rivers, along with the temperate climate of mild winters and warm falls, have an important and beneficial effect on the vineyards...

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As the city of Bordeaux evolved into an important port and center of trade in the eighteenth century, its political importance grew, as did the reputation of its wines. The Bordeaux merchants, who had for centuries dealt with wines from “up river” were encouraged at this time to leave behind the wines from the other southwest appellations in favor of the local wines that were given special “fast-track” privileges. Today, a few centuries later, the Bordeaux vineyards and their reputation have developed significantly. Presently, there are 53 different Bordeaux appellations comprising approximately 275,000 acres of appellation controlée vineyards. This scale of activity insures that one can never know Bordeaux, but rather, continue to discover it.

We have found Bordeaux to be an area that far exceeds its conventional association with classification systems and the relatively few “grand chateaux”. As in other regions of France, our portfolio focuses on small family estates located throughout the many Bordeaux appellations. Beyond the circles of merchants, negociants and journalists that often define Bordeaux; we have found independent vignerons working on a small scale whose deep commitment and sensitivity to their land and work results in the production of beautifully rich and diverse wines. The Bordeaux winemaker now works with centuries old viticultural traditions which are being interpreted through a lens of modern technology and a global exchange of ideas.