45 Insta-Days in Bordeaux: 5 - Chateau Larmande

Let the sommelier tells you the story

Château Larmande is a classified Grand Cru Classé wine in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France. It is one of the oldest wine-producing properties in Saint-Émilion with documented mention of vines at the estate dating back to 1569.

Preparing the wine

Chateau Larmande is better with 5-7 years of bottle age.

They reach the peak of maturity between 5-17 years of life.

Younger vintages can be decanted for up to 1 hour. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages need very little decanting, just to remove the sediments.

VSPIN time: young vintages – Speed 3, Spin time 3:00

Older Vintages – Speed 2, Spin time 2:00

Pour it Up, Pour it Up

For most of the last century Larmande was owned by the Méneret-Capedemourlin family - Philippe and Dominique Méneret invested heavily in the property, installing temperature-controlled, steel tanks in the late 1970s and increasing the percentage of new oak barrels used in the maturation process. In 1991 Larmande was sold to the French insurance conglomerate, La Mondiale. It lies north of the town of St. Emilion, close to Soutard and Cadet-Piola.

Larmande produces a Merlot-dominant Bordeaux blend and the grapes are hand-harvested. The vineyard is composed primarily of ancient sands with smaller portions of clay-limestone and siliceous clay in the soil.

The estate spans 20 hectares (49 acres) of vineyards, planted to 65 percent Merlot, 30 percent Cabernet Franc and five percent Cabernet Sauvignon, with vines averaging 30 years old.

Château Larmande is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, with similar proportions to its vineyard plantings. The grapes are vinified in stainless steel vats and aged in 60 percent new French oak barrels for 18 months. Around 9000 cases of Château Larmande are produced annually.

Swirling in the glass

Definitely dark fruits on the nose and beautiful cassis on the palate!

Medium-bodied with firm tannins and hints of sweet spices.

A good quality Right Bank Bordeaux, indeed!

Pairing

Classic meat dishes: veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game and roast chicken

roasted, braised and grilled dishes

Rich fish like tuna

Mushrooms

Pasta

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Understanding in figures

Area under wine

20 hectares

Production

70,000 bottles

Soil

Clay-limestone, clay-siliceous, and sand

Grape varieties

65 % Merlot

30 % Cabernet franc

5 % Cabernet Sauvignon

Barrel ageing

18 months

New barrels: 60 %

Second wine

Cadet de Larmande

Source: Berry Bros and Rubb, Wine-Searcher, The wine cellar insider, Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux

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