Villa Bel Air (FR) Graves 1999 Front Label
Villa Bel Air (FR) Graves 1999 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

The story of Château Villa Bel-Air began in 1777, when the Marquis de Lajarte built the elegant villa that adorns the label today. Over the next two centuries, the estate earned a stellar reputation for producing high quality Bordeaux wines. In the late 1980s, its solid standing attracted the attention of the renowned Jean-Michel Cazes, owner of the great Château Lynch-Bages, who decided to purchase the well-established property. Under his direction, Château Villa Bel-Air has flourished, producing wines that improve in quality with each successive vintage.

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. A dark ruby color. Elegant nose of ripe fruit and hints of tobacco. Fruity and rich, with smooth tannins and a long finish. Great with smoked meat, duck and pates.

Villa Bel Air

Villa Bel Air

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One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.

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Graves

Bordeaux, France

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Famous for both its red and white wines, Graves is a large region, extending 30 miles southeast of the city of Bordeaux, along the left bank of the Garonne River. Red wine producing vineyards cover well over three times as much area as the whites. In the late 1980s, the French created the separate appellation of Pessac-Léognan within the northern confines of Graves. It includes all of its most famous properties, and the southern suburbs of the city Bordeaux itself. In French "graves" is a term used to indicate gravelly soils.

LIM3316617_1999 Item# 56269