Greysac Has the Knack

Prologue:

"Chateau Greysac (grey-sack) is a well-known cru bourgeois of the Medoc whose 150 acres produce about 40,000 cases a year of a dependable and attractive wine." ...Frank Schoonmaker New Encylcopedia of Wine

"Chateau Greysac is a large, well-run estate making a sound, enjoyable wine." ...The Larousse Encyclopedia of Wine

The Rest of the Story: Greysac is a Bordeaux PETITS CHATEAUX, which means "small castles." They are known for producing some of the best values of the district. Greysac's 150-acre vineyard is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, which are the proportions used in their 1994 release. My tasters were very enthusiastic about the typical rich flavors, and even more enthusiastic about the atypical Bordeaux price, only $16.

The Wine:
1994 Chateau Greysac
Cru Bourgeois, Medoc
Importer: Seagram Chateau & Estate Wines Co.
Contact: Angela Freire, Ph. (707)255-7667
Food Affinities: A red wine for red meat dishes plus assorted cheeses after the entree.
$16

Postscript: For those who would like a review of the French wine terms involved:

Bordeaux - Overall, the greatest wine region in the world, producing about 500 million bottles a year.

Medoc - A sliver of land north of the city of Bordeaux, which originally was swamp land. In the Medoc, the Romans cultivated oysters, not grapes. In fact, "Medoc" comes from the Latin IN MEDIO AQUAE meaning "in the middle of the waters." The swamps were drained in the 17th century and great vineyards soon appeared. Cru Bourgeois - The landmark classification of 1855 left 99% of all area properties unclassified. Consequently, the Bourgeois classification evolved this century in an effort to provide some indication of quality. We'll cover the details in a forthcoming article.

About the Writer Fred McMillin, a veteran wine writer, has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents. He currently teaches wine courses at San Francisco State and San Francisco City College. In 1995, the Academy of Wine Communications honored Fred with one of only 22 Certificates of Commendation awarded to American wine writers.

Read more articles by Fred McMillin in the eGGsf

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