Chateau Olivier

The chateau itself dated from the 12^th century, and by the 14^th century it was occupied by the d’Olivey family. The last Olivier decided to enter priesthood so the property was passed down the female line, the Lasserre family. Subsequently it was passed to Pierre Penel in 1663 through marriage. The estate then changed hands many times, now in the Bethmann family, with Jean-Jacques de Bethmann at the helm.

The estate amounts of 220 ha but majority is forest, pasture and grazing land. Vineyards constitute 50 ha, with a variety of terroirs. It is also only one of the six chateau entitled to produce both red and white under the Graves classification of 1959. Traditionally focusing on white, now there are more balanced position on the reds, with 38 ha comprising of 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. The average vine age is 25 years. White constitutes 12 ha, with 55% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle, of average age of 40 years.

Fruit is sorted at harvest manually, also in the winery, followed by temperature-controlled fermentation in steel vats. Cold maceration was conducted prior to fermentation. The wine will spend one year in oak, one-third of which are new in each vintage. Each year the production volume is about 6000 cases for the white, and 18000 cases for the red.

I have tasted the 2005 Blanc, which I found with good intensity on the nose and quite enjoyable, unlike a lot of the wine critics had assessed. Comparatively a much lower price with other Pessac-Leognan GCC, I recommend the readers to try those on the good vintage. You will get a good value bargain!

Region / Country: Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Vintage: 2005

Grape: 48% Sauvignon, 2% Muscadelle, 50% Semillon

ABV: 12.5%                 

Price: HK$248

Tasting Date: 18 August 2011

Official website: www.chateau-olivier.com

Wineshark Score: 90

Light intensity lemon colour, this Pessac-Leognan white has a strong and developing nose of smoke, grass, lemon, honey, oak, gooseberry and peach. On the palate it is on the sour side with medium body, showing reasonable intensity flavors of lemon, wax, gooseberry, grass, honey and peach. Overall a good quality white of distinguished Sauvignon and Semillon characters on the nose, but without an equivalent strong palate. Quite straight-forward and simple, with a good length, this wine is ready to drink now but can be further improved for another 2-3 years.

Wines I have owned or tasted for the estate:

• Chateau Olivier, Blanc 2005
• Chateau Olivier, Blanc 2008
• Chateau Olivier, Rouge 2008