At the beginning of the 19th century, John-Lewis Brown (1769-1851), bought a vineyard and designed in the village of Cantenac, a traditional Tudor style château, reminding him of his Scottish origins. His name is forever linked to the Grand Cru Classé. After the 1855 Grand Cru Classification, Louis Armand Lalande (1820-1894), Bordeaux winemerchant and owner of several estates in Médoc, extended the building. Surrounded by a remarkable British style park, Château Cantenac Brown is since then among the most original in Médoc and of the wines to watch out for, getting better vintage after vintage.
BriO de Cantenac Brown is the second wine of Château Cantenac Brown and was first created in the 2001 vintage. From the style of its label, through to the careful selection of lots and to the bottling, the wine aims to express the modernity of Château Cantenac Brown in the 21st Century. Charming, delicate and brilliant, a pleasurable wine for sharing. It can be enjoyed young, but will improve when kept for a few years.
For more info, visit Château Cantenac Brownwebsite.
VARIETALS
69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
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.
Château Faugèresis known for wines that demonstrate a stylistic evolution focused on finesse. This trend was put in place at the property by Silvio Denz, a Swiss-German businessman passionate about wine and owner of several vineyards in the Bordeaux region.
A Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion, Château Faugères extends over a vineyard of 37 ha located on one of the most beautiful terroirs of the Right Bank, the famous limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion. In order to better respect the environment and to enhance the richness of the soil, the vineyard is cultivated according to a sustainable natural viticulture.
2017 was a vintage of many challenges and an early harvest. Fortunately, Château Faugères was one of the properties spared by frost. The quality of the fruit was preserved throughout the vegetative cycle. An exceptional wine, the Château Faugères 2017 is the second vintage of the estate’s Grand Vin adorned with a Lalique “Calice” engraving.
Château Laffitte Carcasset was founded in 1759 at «Le Carcasset», an area located at the heart of Saint-Estèphe appellation. In 1781
his owner, Jean Laffitte, lawyer and prosecutor of the King Louis XVI in Bordeaux, gave his name to the estate.
This beautiful chartreuse typical of the 18th century, is surrounded by the Classified Growths of Saint-Estèphe. The vineyard is on the gravellous plateau, near the Gironde estuary where the Cabernet and the Merlot best express their potential.
Château Laffitte Carcasset is a classic Saint-Estèphe red wine. A powerful, deep and well-structured wine, round and elegant, with excellent ageing potential.
For more info, visit Château Laffitte Carcassetwebsite.
VARIETALS
59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
The Château Larcis Ducasse has existed since the 17th century. Preservation, terroir expression and vine care are the watchwords of this estate, elevated to the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion in 2012 thanks to the work of Nicolas Thienpont, after he took the reins of the domaine in 2002.
Chateau Larcis Ducasse 2017 reveals a velvety, sensual and fleshy mouthfeel, which envelops the palate in a succession of different sensations.
For more info, visit Château Larcis Ducasse website.
The Barton family’s passion for wine is reflected in the elegance and consistency of Château Léoville Barton. This estate was classified as a 2nd Grand Cru Classé in 1855 and lies within the iconic terroir of Saint Julien in the Médoc.
The Château was built in 1758 by Monsieur de Pontet. Beneath the private apartments lie the crypted vaulted cellars in which silence reigns eternal.The most renowned vintages of Léoville Barton are left to age in the peace and quiet of these cellars to reach their ultimate potential.
For more info, visit Château Leoville Barton website.
Château Palmer stands as an icon of elegance and sophistication within the illustrious Margaux appellation of Bordeaux. With a history dating back over two centuries, this esteemed estate has consistently produced wines of extraordinary quality and distinction. Situated on gravelly soils, Château Palmer’s vineyards yield grapes that embody the unique terroir of Margaux, resulting in wines celebrated for their finesse, complexity, and age-worthiness. Embracing tradition while embracing innovation, Château Palmer remains a beacon of excellence in the world of wine, captivating enthusiasts with its unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and the timeless allure of its wines.
Carrying a unique style, already magnificent, Château Palmer 2017 will sublime over time, imbued with this depth and nobility that only the Grands Crus have the secret.
Château Phélan-Ségur is a St Estèphe property that produces textbook meaty, solid and long-lived St Estèphe. Founded by Irishman Bernard O’Phelan, the estate was developed by his son, Frank, and renamed Phélan Ségur in the early 20th century. It was bought by Xavier Gardinier in 1985 and run by his sons, Thierry and Laurent until 2018, when Philippe Van de Vyvere bought the property.
2017, the first vintage under the new ownership, was marked by the episode of spring frost in the Bordeaux vineyards which spared these vineyards. It is a wine characterized by the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) and the integration of Cabernet Franc in its blend.
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.
Corte S. Anna is the name of the courtyard located in front of the restored tufa country house. It is symbolized by the weathervane in the courtyard, which features a rooster.
The line Corte Sant’ Anna, which is vinified and bottled by Rubinelli Vajol, identifies this younger Amarone, which has a shorter ageing period.
Originally Venetian wine traders in 1912, the Fabiano family moved to Verona in 1956 to produce wine on a larger scale, sourcing fruit from Estate and contract vineyards in Soave, Bardolino, and Valpolicella.
Produced by a careful selection of local grapes from the high hills vineyard located in the classic area of the Valpolicella DOC region, in particular around the ancient village of Negrar, this Amarone is a wine of antique lineage. It is a limited production dedicated by Nicola Fabiano to his grandfather Francesco and to his father Sergio. They have been for their children and in particular for him (Nicola) an inspiration and a good example with their passion and tenacity in producing great quality wines.
Three large plots in the best parts of Pauillac form the vineyard of this classified growth, an unusual configuration and a direct inheritance from the estate’s founder, Pierre Ducasse, an eminent lawyer. In the 18th century he gave a single name to a fine vineyard holding, which was put together through inheritance and purchases. When he died in 1797, his son, Pierre, inherited a 60-hectare exploitation, named Ducasse-Grand-Puy-Artigues-Arnaud, of which two third were planted with vines. The estate was classified in 1855, under the name of Artigues Arnaud.
L’Héritier de Grand Puy Ducasse is the second wine of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse. A distinguished red wine that embodies the classic elegance of the Pauillac AOC with rich flavors and refined tannins.
For more info, visit Château Grand-Puy Ducassewebsite.
Located in the heart of the Haut-Médoc appellation, on the edge of the Saint-Julien appellation, the Château de Camensac covers 75 hectares. Purchased in 2005 by the Merlaut family, he benefits from the experience and know-how of the Château Chasse Spleen team, it regains its glory of 1855, when it was ranked 5th Grand Cru in the Bordeaux classification and its wines renew with the traditional quality of the castle.
La Closerie de Camensac is the second wine of Château de Camensac and it is a cuvée from the young vines which it enjoys the same careful care during the vinification as the great wine.
A wine with a captivating personality, La Closerie de Camensac offers the opportunity to taste a vintage from a Médoc classified vintage at a very affordable price.
Coming from younger vines, the second wine of Château Giscours comes from the same terroirs and the same grape varieties as its elder.
La Sirène de Giscours, a name full of delicacy and elegance that reflects so well the personality of the second wine.
Developed with the same philosophy that guides the teams in making Château Giscours, La Sirène is a magnificent expression of Margaux’s terroir. A wine of pure pleasure.
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