Château Grand Bert has been owned by the Lavigne-Poitevin family for six generations and today it falls to Sophie and Laurent to run this Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Château. Situated south of the village of St Sulpice de Faleyrens, the vineyards are made up of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The grapes are harvested and immediately de-stemmed and manually sorted. The grapes are then left to soak for 72 hours at a low temperature before alcoholic fermentation over 10 days. Finally the juice is macerated for 30 days. Aged in oak barrels for 18 months (80% new barrels, 10% one-year-old barrels and 10% in cement vats), the wine has a mellow nose, with red and black fruits and hints of cedar and tobacco. It is a very approachable Grand Cru with rich fruit, ripe smooth tannins and a long finish.