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A Declassified Gem Robert Parker Calls "A Great Wine and An Unreal Value"
It was in the winter of 1992 that Claudie and Bruno Bilancini had the extraordinary luck of being able to lease one of the top sites in Monbazillac, the Cru de Tirecul (one of the ancient premier cru sites in the AOC). Even though the vineyard and small cave were in disrepair, they cared for it as if it were their own, and in 1997, realized their dream of owning the property. Now, Tirecul la Graviere is recognized as the top property of the AOC.
The fame of Chateau Tirecul la Graviere has spread far and wide over the last several years.
Most notably, Robert Parker has awarded the property two 100 point scores and compared it with Sauterne’s Chateau d’Yquem.
  
With good acidity and a solid backbone, these wines can last for decades under optimal storage conditions, a rarity for wines from this area of Southwest France. These wines are magical and defining examples of the best Monbazillac can offer and more.
“A 30-year aging curve is possible for the 2003 Chateau. Composed of 55% Semillon and 45% Muscadelle aged nearly 30 months in French oak, it reveals a dark amber color along with a blockbuster bouquet of toffee, maple syrup, roasted hazelnuts, creme brulee, toasted pineapple and assorted honeyed citrus. Terrific acidity balances out the nearly 120 grams per liter of residual sugar. Possessing superb richness, intensity and length, this is an absolute steal that, as mentioned above, will age at least three decades.
One of the top terroirs of Monbazillac (whose wines several hundred years ago sold for higher prices than those of Barsac and Sauternes) is the Cru de Tirecul, which was leased by the owners of Chateau Tirecul La Graviere. Selling these wines has never been easy because of the difficult marketplace for sweet wines and the even more troublesome marketplace for Monbazillac, which has fallen out of favor over recent decades.
However, these are great wines, and Eric Solomon has convinced this top-notch estate to basically declassify these wines to a lower price point as he is trying to get them some sort of penetration in the marketplace. These are unreal values for such complex wines that can compete with the finest of Barsac and Sauternes at a fraction of the price. If you don’t believe me, insert them in a blind tasting of top vintages of Barsac and Sauternes and you’ll see for yourself.” (Robert Parker, Wine Advocate)
Wine Advocate: 95 points
Regularly $46.99/500 ml bottle.
Special sale while supplies last: Only $23.49/500 ml bottle (a 50% savings!!!). | 