Situated between Saint Estephe and Pauillac, overlooking the first classified growths of Medoc, the Château Puy Castéra can claim one of the most prestigious wine neighborhoods in the world. This domaine of 18 hectares has a terroir of exception which provide to the wine complexity and elegance.
The name of this Château dates back to ancient times, meaning “fortress on a hill”. It is also notable for having once belonged to one of the biggest names in viticulture: Henri Marès, the man who discovered how to combat powdery mildew.
VARIETALS
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
The Château Quinault l’Enclos property is located on the right bank of Bordeaux in the Saint-Émilion appellation. Belonging to the famous Château Cheval Blanc, the first classified A growth of Saint-Émilion, the wines of Château Quinault l’Enclos benefit from the same care as those of Château Cheval Blanc.
A vintage of challenges marked by strong climatic contrasts, 2018 will remain a great year in the memories of the property. The heavy rainfall at the start of the year will have generated significant mildew pressure. The precision and constant attention paid by the property’s technical teams made it possible to save Château Quinault L’Enclos from mildew. The beautiful summer which set in in July with an ideal September favored perfect ripening with berries with good concentration.
VARIETALS
72% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc
Originally from Schönberg, in the Rhineland, fleeing the consequences of the defeat of Napoleon I, the Yung family origins settled for more than a century in Algeria. Already listed in the first edition of Féret des Vins d’Oranie in 1886, the family developed its vineyard until independence, until forced to abandon the wine estates it had owned since 1859.
In 1862 Charles Young joined his older brother, already settled in Gironde. He then decides to acquire for his 2 children and his 2 nephews, the Château Haut Mondain, a 42-hectare AOC Bordeaux wine estate, followed then by Château Barail, Les Hauts de Palette and Moulin de Tassin.
Since 2020, the Charles Yung & Fils vineyards have been committed to a societal and environmental approach by obtaining High Environmental Value (HVE), level 3 certification.
Comte Joseph Marie de Ségur, the Lord of Cabanac, purchased and created this 7.5-ha estate, which still bears his name “Ségur de Cabanac.” Guy Delon, 7th generation of winegrowers in Bordeaux, took over the property in 1985. Today he continues to manage the estate with his son JF Delon and his daughter Guylène. They also own another Cru Bourgeois, Château Moulin de la Rose in Saint-Julien.
The parcels of this property are situated on the eastern part of Saint-Estephe. The vineyards, composed of gravel, are facing the estuary of the Gironde.
For more info, visit Château Segur de Cabanacwebsite.
The Meyre family, Médoc winegrowers for 6 generations, have been able to extend and perpetuate the family business. Julien and Nathalie, now in charge of the properties and drawing on their respective experiences, bring dynamism and renewal.
Château Sorbey in Haut Médoc is the smallest of Mayre’s properties, producing ample and fruity wines with harmonious tannins, everything that makes the reputation of Haut Médoc wines.
VARIETALS
52% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Vignobles Jean Sorge are home to the cru bourgeois Château Deyrem-Valentin and its little sister, Château Soussans. The estates nestle between two grands crus classés and date back to 1730. Christelle Sorge is now in charge and she continues on a path of tradition married with innovation to provide wines of ever increasing quality to lovers of Margaux everywhere.
Created in 1936, Château Talaris is a family estate of 7 hectares located in Tauriac (Gironde), close to the Pair-non-pair caves.
The vineyard of Château Talaris, lead by its owner Ms. Christelle Rios, has been certified sustainableHVE (High Environmental Value) and has been in the process of conversion to organic farming since 2020.
Legend relates that the name of this imposing estate originates with Connétable Talbot, a famous English warrior, defeated at the battle of Castillon in 1453. Talbot is one of the Medoc’s oldest estates, its glory never tainted. Through the years, it has been fortunate enough to remain in good hands. The owners are Nancy Bignon-Cordier and her family. They are the fourth generation of Cordiers to manage this Saint-Julien fourth Classified Growth.
For many, Talbot embodies the ideal Saint-Julien, a generous bouquet, extremely stable and dependable during aging, a champion of longevity; even young Talbot is pleasant and rounded, always characterized by silky, mild and very civilized tannins. Talbot possesses an expansive character. It’s never withdrawn into itself and has the courtesy of being in a good mood every day.
This property is located in Etauliers, north of the Gironde 1er Cotes de Blaye, on a clay soil and sandy grave on 13 hectares in production. The wines of Chateau Thomas Laurent are predominantly from the Merlot grape that gives soft and round structure to the wine.
VARIETALS
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
On a vineyard created in the middle of the 19th century by the Count of Kermartin, Léon Nony founded Château Treytins in the 1950s. After his death in 1959, his son Michel and then his grandson Jean-Marc continued his work by developing his vineyards. During the 1990s, the cellars were enlarged and completely renovated to take into account new techniques and the latest knowledge in winemaking and maturing, while respecting traditional achievements. Château Treytins, vinified on the fruit, benefits fully from the temperature regulation in these air-conditioned cellars.
The name of Clos du Marquis, created in 1902, was inspired by the Petit Clos adjacent to the Château de Léoville, residence of the Marquis de Las Cases. The Clos du Marquis is produced from top terroirs of the Saint-Julien Appellation that were not exclusively part of the old Domaine de Léoville cadastre. These terroirs are located slightly to the west and are surrounded by prestigious Classified Growths, particularly Seconds Crus Classés of Saint-Julien and Pauillac : Léoville Poyferré, Léoville Barton, Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande… The Clos du Marquis offers a fine expression of the Saint-Julien character : structure, complexity, harmony, distinction and ageing potential.
Structured, direct, and intense, the 2021 Clos du Marquis has a strong identity that owes much to the elegance and power of the Cabernets, which perform well in this vintage. This wine displays complexity, aristocratic stature, and an airy, inviting elegance that lingers on the finish.
The Codex Reserve brand is the result of mixed inspirations. Its enigma comes from the winemakers and their desire to protect the terroirs from which they sourced the grapes. Specially selected to create this premium range, these vineyards offer the perfect conditions to grow juicy, full-flavoured grapes that make uniquely flavoured wines.
This specific Cabernet Sauvignon comes from carefully selected terroirs from the South of France, benefiting from hot sunny days and cooler nights at the end of summer. This aspect allows the harvest of balanced grapes, with lovely natural acidity and fruit-forward profile. The vines are planted on well-drained silty soils, with gravels retaining heat.
Of course, the exact location of such rare terroirs is a well-kept secret which is why the Codex brand is so mysterious…
Casa Santos Lima was created to ensure the continuous development of Santos Lima’s wine producing activity created several generations ago. This activity was first started by Joaquim Santos Lima, who, by the turn of 19th century, was already a great producer and exporter of Portuguese wines. Still a family owned company, today is present in the regions of Lisboa, Algarve, Alentejo, Vinho Verde and Douro.
This wine was made quite close to Lisboa, in a place where the vineyards sprawl through smooth hills also offering unique landscapes. With an excellent colour and aromatic exuberance, this is a wine with notes of red ripe fruits and spices, having been partially aged inoak barrels. With a good body and firm tannins, it finishes long and balanced.
Casa Santos Lima was created to ensure the continuous development of Santos Lima’s wine producing activity created several generations ago. This activity was first started by Joaquim Santos Lima, who, by the turn of 19th century, was already a great producer and exporter of Portuguese wines. Still a family owned company, today is present in the regions of Lisboa, Algarve, Alentejo, Vinho Verde and Douro.
This wine was made in an estate close to Lisboa where the vineyards sprawl across smooth slopes with stunning landscapes. This is a very fresh and intense rosé, with flavours of strawberries and raspberries. A well-balanced wine with a refreshing acidity.
Comte de Gironde has been owned by the Comin family for over a hundred years and since 2003 it is one of the daughters and her husband who together run the business with plantations of around 50 hectares of vines. The vineyard spans three municipalities in the appellation Entre-Deux-Mers on lands that are characteristic of the region’s terroir, full of muddy limestone. Soil that is very favorable for growing both Sauvignon Blanc for white and Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds.
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