5th Grand Cru Classé of Pauillac, Château Pontet-Canet has experienced an irresistible rise which has made it one of the most emblematic brands of the Médoc. Led by Justine and Alfred Tesseron, Château Pontet-Canet has established itself as one of the finest references on the left bank of Bordeaux.
The 2017 vintage was marked by an episode of frost at the end of April, which had little impact on the vineyard due to the protective influence of the Gironde estuary. The growing cycle took place under favorable climatic conditions, including flowering in mid-May and veraison at the beginning of July. Despite some rain during September, the health condition is perfect and the grapes harvested at full maturity are of high quality.
The Château Pontet-Fumet is located near the village of Vignonet in the well-known wine-growing region of Saint-Émillion.
It is one of the outstanding Grand Crus in Saint-Émillion, where the soils of the vineyards are characterized by sandy gravel soils.
Château Prieuré-Lichine’s history is an amazing mix of different eras and styles. From the Roman origins of the property to its rebirth under the Ballande group, 500 years of historic figures and events at this estate have combined to forge its special spirit, perfectly embodied by the Pope of Wine, Alexis Lichine.
Voluptuous and classic, the Grand Cru Classé of Château Prieuré-Lichine fully expresses the fine characteristics of its terroir with the elegance, subtely and breeding of great Margaux wines.
For more info, visit Château Prieuré-Lichinewebsite.
VARIETALS
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
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
Château Roc de Levraut is located on the hillsides of Sauveterre de Guyenne, in the beautiful region of Entre Deux Mers, in the South West of France, and it belongs to the Ballarin family of winegrowers.
As is typically the case in the Entre-Deux-Mers sub-region, the soils are characterized by clay and limestone. The top layer is covered with a thin layer of gravel. In addition, there are regularly large rocks that bear the regional name of Roc de Levraut . This is where Château Roc de Levraut takes its name.
The cultivation of the vines is in conversion to organic farming and Certified sustainable HVE (High Environmental Value).
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.
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
In the small village of Liginiac in Corrèze, the Moueix are recognized and respected for having lived by and passed on two core values, essential to success: Discretion and Hard Work. When Antoine Moueix (1796 – 1874), the first of the namesake, settled with his family in Lieu-dit Manzac on the Millevaches plateau, he had no idea that his descendants would establish one of the biggest wine dynasties in Bordeaux and California.
Today, Antoine Moueix Propriétés walks in the footprints of their founder: discretion and hard work, passion for great terroir, good agricultural sense and social responsibility, for transmission of expertise and the pursuit of excellence in all areas.
Vinified within Château Capet-Guillier, Tour de Capet enjoys its own unique terroir, lending the wine identity and character.
The sandy-silt soil produces wines of great finesse, which draw character from the well-balanced structure and round-bodied nature of Merlot.
For more info, visit Antoine Moueix Propriétés website.
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.
Château Vieux Moulin is located on a clay-limestone plateau near the village of Saint-Emilion.
It was in the early 20th century that Herman Sublett invested in the vineyards of Puisseguin and its surroundings. Grégoire Sublett, the great-grandson and a member of the fourth generation, has taken up the torch and continues, surrounded by his family and team, the work of his father Didier Sublett, his
grandfather Michel Sublett, and his great-grandfather Herman Sublett to make this estate shine.
The vineyard is managed with a commitment to environmental respect. Being winegrowers for several generations, the family’s sensitivity to nature is at the heart of their concerns. Thus, their approach pays attention throughout the year to vineyard cultivation and the unique character of this terroir.
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