2012 Chateau Les Grands Chenes Cru Bourgeois Medoc 750 ml

Finding a well-kept, decade-old bottle of Bordeaux is tough. Finding one from vintner Bernard Magrez, a 100-point titan of the region, is even harder. 

Checking BOTH of those boxes…and keeping the price under $30? Good luck.

Well, the 2012 Les Grands Chênes Cru Bourgeois Médoc manages to do it. 

This is a testament to Magrez, who “built an empire based on high quality,” in the words of Robert Parker. With friend and 100-point consulting winemaker Michel Rolland at his side, Magrez always produces the best possible wine, regardless of its price or the prestige of the appellation from which it hails.

Comprising hand-harvested Merlot and Cabernet, aged 18 months in new, custom-made barrels, the 2012 Les Grands Chênes is classic Magrez, full of sumptuous fruit and plenty of power, plus woodsy nuances and silky tannins that only come with bottle age. 

Our friends in Bordeaux tell us that vines in the Médoc’s prime terroirs “like to see the water,” and this château’s perch on the hill of Saint-Christoly-Médoc gives it perfect views of the Atlantic. That means exposure to ocean breezes, which help moderate the heat of the growing season, allowing for maximum hang-time and flavor. 

2012 brought challenges—spring rains caused a late start to the season and some mildew, then extreme heat during flowering slashed yields—but châteaux with plenty of expertise and workers in the vineyard stayed one step ahead. Once harvest rolled around, selective passes through the vines, top-of-the-line winemaking equipment, and sorting the berries aggressively resulted in FANTASTIC wines.

Our small allocation arrives directly from Les Grands Chênes’ cellars, with perfect provenance. This decade-old treat will drink beautifully for at least another five years.