Château Cap de Faugères is a 46-hectare, estate in the pretty village of Sainte-Colombe, earning it the appellation of Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux. The vineyard has a fine terroir of limestone and clay slopes, a continuation of that of Saint-Emilion. Sustainable methods of natural viticulture are used to cultivate the vines.
From the same ownership (Silvio Denz) as Faugeres and Peby Faugeres, this 2017 Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux should prove to be very popular with consumers.
Family owned since 1810, the Château Cap Léon Veyrin originates from the meeting of Château Cap Léon and the Veyrin estate. Cape comes from the word “head”. In fact, the vineyards of Cap Léon are located on the highest points of Listrac-Médoc, favoring natural drainage and ideal sunshine. Nathalie and Julien Meyre, are the 6th generation of the family running this property, perpetuate the tradition: predominance of Merlot, collage with egg white, aging of 12 months in barrels, manual harvesting for young parcels and for old vines, while bringing their dynamism to this renowned Cru Bourgeois du Médoc.
For more info, visit Château Cap Léon Veyrinwebsite.
VARIETALS
58% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
Château Chasse-Spleen is the leading Moulis estate along with Château Poujeaux. Although it is classified only as a Cru Bourgeois, it regularly outperforms many of the Médoc’s more renowned classed growths. There are numerous stories trying to explain the name of Chateau Chasse Spleen. The first version is that the name was inspired from a visit by Lord Byron in 1821, which was so moved, that he quoted, “Quel remede pour chasser le spleen”, which when loosely translated means, “What remedy to remove the spleen?”. The other equally poetic explanation is attributed to the poem Spleen, whose author Charles Baudelaire also visited Château Chasse-Spleen.
A very elegant, fresh and classical wine with a lot of energy and drive on the finish with great aging potential.
For more info, visit Château Chasse-Spleenwebsite.
VARIETALS
50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
Château Corbin is one of the oldest estates in St. Emilion. In fact, it dates back to the 15th century. More recently, bringing Chateau Corbin into the modern era, in 1924, Château Corbin was purchased by the Great Grandparents of the current owners, the Cruse family. The beautiful chateau was constructed in the 1800s. During the late 1990s, Anabelle Cruse and her sisters purchased the shares of Château Corbin from the other family shareholders and took over complete ownership of the estate.
In each and every vintage, the wines of Château Corbin are the fruit of true luxury craftsmanship. Carefully tended vines, a meticulous selection of the grape bunches and slow barrel ageing are prerequisites in the Corbin method to ensure longevity in its wines. Each vintage is a journey of its own, in which the senses travel to and fro between elegance and complexity.
Past Château Lafite, then up the small hill of stones, the locals call “Caux”, to Cos d’Estournel and its discrete neighbour Château Cos Labory.
The name of the estate comes from its geographical location on the Cos hill and the name of François Labory, who was the first owner until 1845. Mr. d’Estournel then acquired it before selling it again to an English banker, Charles Martyns in 1852. The property was finally taken over by George Weber in the 1930’s, who bequeathed it to his daughter and son-in-law, François Audoy in 1959. In 1971, the couple acquired the neighbouring estate, Château Andron Blanquet, until their elder son Bernard took over, now the emblematic symbol of the estate, having always lived in Saint-Estèphe.
Over time, the changes came gradually through substantial investment into technology, particularly an ultra-modern vat house and a new cellar. Having decided to vinify the wines at low temperatures to preserve and extract the fruit, their aim is to offer wines that age well but are also enjoyable when still young. Château Cos Labory combines characteristic Saint-Estèphe vigour and elegance and its rich tannin content gives this wine good ageing potential.
The origin of the name Château Croizet-Bages dates back to the seventeenth century when the Croizet brothers, emblematic dynasty of the Médoc landscape, founded this estate in the heart of the Pauillac appellation.
In the heart of the Médoc Regional Natural Park is the vineyard of Château Croizet-Bages, already planted with vines during the imperial classification of 1855.
Pauillacais in essence, the wines of Château Croizet-Bages are solar and generous.
To perfect the most delicate blends, Merlot, harvested relatively early, brings roundness to the great wine. The petit verdot, present in a tiny quantity, gives all its colorful passion to the wine. The backbone of the great wine, Cabernet Sauvignon brings an aromatic power all in length that will be revealed after a few years of ageing.
Aged 12 months in French oak barrels, the wines are fine and velvety in texture.
For more info, visit Château Croizet-Bageswebsite.
VARIETALS
58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
Vignobles Lassagne gather several family properties that were bought since three generations and are grown according to tradition and innovation on unique terroir located in the Libourne area.
Vignobles Lassagne encompasses these three properties: Château des Arnauds (the original estate), Château des Landes and Château Maltus, the latest addition to the Vignobles Lassagne.
The soils and basements of the Château des Arnauds located in Abzac, are composed of gravel that can be red with a caliber between fine pebble and coarse sand. Sometimes the gravel is mixed with the clay, sometimes they follow one another in layers. The pebbles flush with the surface allow the sun to reflect on the grapes, thus allowing excellent ripeness. This vineyard developed by father Daniel Lassagne, is located on a beautiful, south-facing plateau of red gravel around the town of Abzac, and being a 100% Merlot varietal, it prodeuces a wine of beautiful balance of roundness and structure.
Vignobles Lassagne gather several family properties that were bought since three generations and are grown according to tradition and innovation on unique terroir located in the Libourne area.
Vignobles Lassagne encompasses these three properties: Château des Arnauds (the original estate), Château des Landes and Château Maltus, the latest addition to the Vignobles Lassagne.
Château des Landes is a family vineyard created in 1952, on the Lussac Saint Emilion appellation zone.
At the beginning, Paul Lassagne started with only 2 hectares and worked by night at a local roof tile factory, and by day on his little property with vines, land and pasture.
Between Pomerol to the West and Saint-Emilion to the South, the Montagne Saint-Emilion vineyard nestles in the middle of the most prestigious terroirs of Libourne. Among the small character properties found in Montagne, the Château Divine Bêtise invites you to indulge and enjoy the table. To discover now!
It was in 1923, at the Château du Barry , that the history of the Mouty vineyards began.
Donat Mouty , enamored of the culture of Saint-Émilion wines, then set his sights on the vines of Château du Barry.
Here, on this great terroir of character, the vines produce a unique fruit with delicacy.
From this fruit are born silky, fleshy, complex and elegant wines.
Acquired in 1905 by the Gauvin family, this estate is now run by the 4th generation.
This cuvée Laroque offers a good balance with notes of red fruit and tannins already supple on the palate.
VARIETALS
65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
Château du Tertre takes its name from the superb group of graves, culminating point of the Margaux appellation, on which is erected the castle. This millennial property of 52 hectares (of which 18 are grown biodynamic) enjoys worldwide renown thanks to the prestigiousGrand Cru Classé de Margaux title it has had since 1855.
The arrival of Eric Albada-Jelgersma, the current owner, in 1997 will profoundly mark the field. A restructuring program and heavy investments have restored its reputation to Château du Tertre. This program has resulted in upgrading technical equipment, reducing yields and setting up a new team. Under the direction of Alexander Van Beek ,Eric Boissenot for winemaking, the vineyard has significantly increased the quality of these wines, giving Château du Tertre its character and nobility, where silky and freshness are combined to bring you the elegance expected of a great Margaux wine.
Château Faugeres is a St Emilion Grand Cru that is now producing textbook new wave St Emilions.
In 1823, the Esquissaud family acquired the estates of Châteaux Faugères and Péby Faugères. Then in 1987, the land was inherited by Pierre Bernard Guisez, which, with his wife Corinne, wanted to become more involved in the vineyards, setting out on a quest for the finest quality. Their wish was to see these exquisite terroirs become jewels in the crown of the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation, a desire that was to be fulfilled in a short time with the help of Michel Rolland. All this was rewarded with the increase to Grand Cru Classé status in 2012.
2009 was the first harvest to be vinified entirely in the new cellar, designed by Mario Botta and known as the “cathedral of wine”, using all the latest processing technology. The wines of this vintage are characterized by exceptional concentration, rarely equaled, and outstanding balance.
“Fons Brogiera: a spring surrounded by heather”. This was the first mention of the name Fombrauge which, for 6 centuries now, has epitomised the elegance of the Grand Cru Classé wines of Saint Emilion. From the Canolle family in the 15th century to Bernard Magrez today, six families have succeeded each other in owning and running Château Fombrauge, providing the estate, which harvested its first grapes in 1599, with a rare stability and a pioneering spirit beyond compare.
To ensure the full expression of the estate’s rich terroir, Bernard Magrez, the owner since 1999, today combines ancestral savoir-faire with precision viticulture. The result is a sublime wine, the epitome of a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé.
The flagship of the estate, this wine is simply the expression of the best terroir that Fontesteau can offer.
No vintage is ever the same as another. The magic of blending confers a unique style to each: the Cabernet Sauvignon is always the dominant variety in the Château Fontesteau blend, a deep and elegant wine. Château Fontesteau wines are at their best after 5 to 10 years in the cellar yet never disappoint those patient enough to wait 20 years or even more.
“This 2016 is a vintage characterised by its richness and harmony.” – Dominique Fouin
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