The formation of Chateau Grand Corbin took place in 1852. Skipping ahead to the next century, Chateau Grand Corbin was purchased in 1960 by the Giraud family. At one time, the Giraud family were the owners of the famed Chateau Trotanoy from Pomerol.In late 2010, Chateau Grand Corbin was purchased by Groupe SMABTP, who own numerous Bordeaux estates including the neighboring St. Emilion estates, Chateau Haut Corbin and Le Jurat, as well as Chateau Cantemerle in the Haut Medoc appellation.Following the results of the 2012 Saint Emilion Classification, Chateau Haut Corbin was merged into Chateau Grand Corbin, which gave the estate an additional 6.4 hectares of vines.
The 28.5 hectare St. Emilion vineyard of Chateau Grand Corbin is planted to 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.The terroir, located not far from the Pomerol, St. Emilion border is mostly sand with clay and bits of iron in the soil. The vines are old. On average, the vines at Grand Corbin are close to 40 years of age.
Chateau Grand Corbin is a traditional Bordeaux wine estate that picks its fruit by hand. To produce the wine at Grand Corbin, after sorting the grapes, the berries are moved to temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats for 5-8 days of cold maceration.The cool temperatures prevent the start of alcoholic fermentation and encourage maceration. Next, the vats are warmed to 22 degrees Celsius to assist alcoholic fermentation. The cap is punched down on a daily basis before the must is pumped over by gravity flow into another tank allowing the total immersion of the grape skins and pips into the must.Following four weeks of maceration, the new wine is run off the vat where only skins, pips, and residual juice remain. Then the skins and pips are put through a vertical wine press.The wine is aged in an average of 33% new, French oak barrels for 12 – 14 months until the final blend prior to the bottling of the St. Emilion, Bordeaux wine.
🏅 Wine Advocate 91+ pts
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Grand Corbin-Despagne has gorgeous purity of crushed black cherries and blackberries on the nose with hints of fragrant earth, roses and menthol plus a waft of unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate is firm with energetic fruit, a lively backbone and a long, earthy finish.
🏅 James Suckling 91 pts
Light, red berries and leafy aromas with rosehip and fresh flowers. The palate has a sleek stream of red-berry flavors and fresh, vibrant tannins.
🏅 Vinous 90 pts
The 2015 Grand Corbin is a powerful, dense wine. Dark raspberry jam, chocolate, new leather, spice and mentholfill out the wine nicely. The 2015 remains a brute, with searing tannins that need at least a few years to settledown. There is more power here than finesse, but even so, there is good potential. The blend is 70% Merlot, 25%Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted two times.
