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Chateau
Olivier
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Location:
Chateau Olivier is a 220 hectare estate located in the Graves
region almost directly south of the city of Bordeaux.
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Classification:
In the 1959
classification of the Graves Region, Chateau Olivier
was given the highest ranking for both it's red and white wines.
There were only 6 estates that received this ranking for red wines
as well as whites.
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Vineyards:
Of the 220 hectares at Chateau Olivier, only 50 hectares are planted
to grapes. The vineyards at Chateau Olivier are densely planted
with 8,000 to 10,000 plants per hectare. The soil is made up of
limestone and gravel. The gravel has an unusual mix of quartz,
jasper, flint and other minerals.
Chateau Olivier has 38 hectares of vineyards growing grapes for
red wines. The red wine vineyards are planted with 45% Merlot,
45% Cabernet
Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet
Franc. The average age of the grape vines used for
making red wines is 25 years.
Chateau Olivier has 12 hectares of vineyards devoted to the production
of white wines. Within the 12 hectares of white grapes, the vineyard
is planted with 55% Semillion,
40% Sauvignon
Blanc and 5% Muscadelle.
The average age of the grape vines used for making white wines
is 40 years.
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Winemaking:
Olivier produces an average of 18,000 cases of red wine and 6,000
cases of white wine. The red wines are produced by Guy Guimberteau
while the winemaker for the white wines is Denis Dubourdieu. As
is required by local Appellation d'Origine regulations, all the
grapes are harvested by hand. A great deal of care is taken to
harvest only those clusters where the grapes are healthy and in
prime condition. Chateau Olivier uses temperature controlled stainless
steel tanks for fermentation of the grape must. Red wines are
fermented at 25-30 degrees C. White wines are fermented at 20
degrees C. After the wine is fermented, Chateau Olivier lets it
age in barrel for 12 months. This is true for the white wine as
well as the red wine. The oak
barrels on the estate are replaced at the rate of 1/3
per year.
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History:
Chateau Olivier has a very long history. The first building was
constructed in the 11th or 12th century. There are records of
the Seigniory of Olivier as far back as 1273. The 'Black Prince'
(Prince Noir) lived in Chateau Olivier in the middle of the 14th
century. Chateau Olivier passed into the hands of Pierre Pernel,
the Baron of Brede, as part of the dowry received when he married
Marie de Lasserre in 1663. Marie was the daughter of the Lord
of Olivier. Pierre Pernel's only daughter married Jacques de Secondat,
the Baron de Montesquieu, and Chateau Olivier had another owner.
The Bethmann family bought Chateau Olivier in 1886 and it continues
as a family owned property. Jean-Jacques Bethmann and his wife
Reine Claude are the current owners.
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Style:
Chateau Olivier Red is a delicious full flavored wine with excellent
structure. It is noted for dense fruit aromas and flavors. Raspberry,
Oak and Gravel can all be found in this wine. The Chateau Olivier
Red becomes accessible after about 5 years and can age for decades
if stored properly.
Chateau Olivier Blanc is a beautiful, well-balanced wine with
a terrific bouquet and a round, mouth-filling taste profile. It
is very refreshing in it's youth and can gain complexity with
age. In good vintages, this wine is at it's best from 5 to 10
years old.
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Second
Wine:
Seigniory of Olivier
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