Owner: Bailliencourt dit Courcol family
Appellation: Pomerol
Classification: Unclassified
Vineyard area: 26 hectares
Annual production: Up to 100,000 bottles
Colour: Red
Standard blend: Merlot (90%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%), Cabernet Franc (3%),
Second wine: L’Hospitalet de Gazin (24,000 bottles p/a)
History
Chateau Gazin boasts an unusual and somewhat cyclical past, having transformed from a farm to a mediaeval hospital to an 18th century village – and back again. During the middle ages, the farm belonged to the Knights Hospitallers of St. John and was the site of a hospital for travelling pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostella. It was then bought by the Feuilhade family in 1772, marking the beginning of its viticultural development. Over the next century and a half the estate was sold to a number of unlikely proprietors (including a ship builder) until 1918, when it was bought by its current owners: the Bailliencourt dit Courcol family.
As with all wines from Pomerol, Gazin is unclassified. However, it is considered one of the great wines of the commune and is a member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux.
The 2014 vintage
Chateau Gazin, which opened the En Primeur 2012 campaign, was early to release again this year. It came out at €39.60 per bottle ex-negociant, up 4.2% on 2013 (€38) and 1.5% on 2012 (€39).
James Molesworth (Wine Spectator) scored it 90-93 and described its “fresh and juicy style, with lots of blueberry, raspberry and plum coulis flavours that race through the anise-accented finish. Features ample, well-integrated toast.” Jancis Robinson – scoring it 16 out of 20 – noted that it was, “sweet and simple and easy without great density of fruit but quite a bit of tannin underneath. For the moment the frame dominates the flesh.”
Market trends
With the Euro weakened, the ex-London open price of the 2014 vintage – £385 per 12×75 – is lower than those of the previous two vintages. The 2012 and 2013 were first offered at £440 and £420 respectively, although as the chart below shows both of these have since declined in value. However, there is positivity to be found amongst Gazin’s earlier vintages, with each from 2004-2009 having appreciated in value since release. The comparably scored 2006 is now offered at £450 while the 2005 is being offered at £740: a 125% increase on its ex-London open price.
While the 2005’s market price is currently the highest, the 2009 and 2010 boast the highest scores from Robert Parker and are on offer at £663 and £540 respectively. For those seeking value, the 2008 looks interesting: it is being offered just above the price of the 2014 but with a higher score and several years in bottle.
