The vines are 35 years old on average in Chantegrive's vineyards where the soils are sandy and clayey (the subsoils are limestones).

Doing a double vertical tasting of Cuvee Caroline (9 vintages) and Rouge (11 vintages) with the owner Marie-Helene Leveque and the export manager Louisa Nguyen.

Differ from the classic Blanc that is made completely in the stainless steel tanks, Cuvee Caroline from a 2 hectares single block is vinified exclusively in oak barrels. The grapes are hand-picked; cold maceration for one day; batonnage three times a week; aging on the fine lees in 50% new French oak barrels (previously includes a bit of American oak) for 9 months. The first vintage 1988 is a straight Semillon, then being half and half for Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc till the 2016, after that 5% Sauvignon Gris has been introduced into the blend. The two cuvees (Caroline and Henri Leveque) are only available in the estate so far. Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 1988 is a 100% Semillon made in entirely new oak barrels. It is said that 'for the back vintages, there are only the exceptional bottles instead of the great vintages'. Then this was certainly the case of the good luck--revealing incredible youthfulness and freshness on the appearance, nose and taste in spite of the 35 years' cellaring. Limpid and layered on the sniff of…(for all the details, please subscribe)…the clean and supple finale that exuded rich and endless flavours consisted mostly of lime, mineral and nuts. I could feel that the life of the beauty was just starting. One of the best Bordeaux white wines. Too young to drink the exceptional Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2007 that was still very fresh on the clean nose and palate. Showing just a tint of golden hues in the young color, Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2009 was the most expressive and the most classical Caroline of the lineup, with nearly perfect evolvement and balance. Magically, the opening act displayed lashings of tertiary aromas such as…(for all the details, please subscribe)…culminated in a long-lasting and well-structured finish that possessed astonishing concentration and a modicum of underlying firmness. Drink now at its peak. Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2015 was evolved, precise and classical bouquets of nuts (almond, hazelnut), chestnut and candies (butterscotch, toffee). Mineral-driven on the mid-palate with subtle creaminess buffered by fresh succulence. Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2016 was shy. Showing less richness but higher in acid than Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2019, Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2017 was as exotic as Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2019, with loads of tropical fruits such as durian and water-chestnut, underneath there were a hint of ironstone and raw hazelnut. Pretty 'big' Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2019 revealed lots of pineapple-like ripe and exotic fruits. Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2020 was slightly reductive and reticent, but very pure. Fresh fruit filled the slightly creamy end. Chateau de Chantegrive “Cuvee Caroline” 2022 was freshly precise on the graceful aroma of stone, mint, spices and yellow fruits. A tint of roundness toward the mid-palate.

Loads of ripe fruits suffused the taste of Chateau de Chantegrive 2003. Chateau de Chantegrive 2004 was somewhat neutral. Leather, spices, black fruits and hawthorn made up the old school bouquet of Chateau de Chantegrive 2005. Chateau de Chantegrive 2006 was opulently woody (coconut, vanilla). Chateau de Chantegrive 2008 was somewhat reticent on the lush bouquet. Leather, graphite, pencil lead, black tea, black liquorice, dried fruits, ripe (black) fruits and vanilla made up the noses of Chateau de Chantegrive 2009 was another old school besides Chateau de Chantegrive 2005. Chateau de Chantegrive 2015 was serious, deep and slightly harsh. Chateau de Chantegrive 2018 was clean and elegant on the nose with a lush backdrop. Loads of fresh fruitiness (peach, blackberry) suffused the juicy and rounded taste. Chateau de Chantegrive 2019 was ripe and soft. Steely Chateau de Chantegrive 2020 was austere and deep. Chateau de Chantegrive 2021 was freshly herbal on the solemnly stony aroma and palate with subtle depths offset by the juiciness of black cherry-like fruitiness.