Wines
2010 Participating Wineries and Winemakers
- Château Angélus , St Emilion
- Château Canon, St Emilion
- Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Léognan
- Château Climens, Barsac-Sauternes
- Château Clinet, Pomerol
- Château Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estèphe
- Château Coutet, Barsac-Sauternes
- Château D'Issan, Margaux
- Château Giscours, Margaux
- Château Guiraud, Sauternes
- Château Gruaud Larose, St. Julien
- Château Lagrange Saint-Julien
- L'Aventure, Paso Robles, California
- Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
- Château Lagrange, St. Julien
- Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan
- Château Margaux, Medoc
- Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux
- Château du Tertre, Margaux
Château Angélus St Emilion Jean-Bernard Grenié
Château Angélus is located just half a mile from the St Emilion bell tower on the famous ‘pied de cote,’ facing due south. The property has been owned by seven generations of the Boüard de Laforest family. Under the direction of Hubert de Boüard since the mid 1980’s, Angélus has created a reputation of producing one of the very foremost wines in its appellation. Elevated to Premier Grand Cru status in 1996, Angélus is clearly a château to seek out in all vintages. While the new regime directs its efforts at a supple, accessible style, the wine is more than capable of aging gracefully as a result of its concentration and richness. The 58-acre vineyard, enjoying perfect southern exposure, is comprised of 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged 18 to 24 months in 100% new oak barrels.
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Château CanonSt Emilion
John Kolasa
The eponymously named Jacques Kanon, frigait lieutenant and corsair, originally from Blaye, northwest of Bordeaux, acquired the St. Martin estate in 1760 using the substantial profits he gleaned from the missions that he carried out on behalf of French King Louis XV and the expense of English shipping. He immediately set out to build an elegant house there around which he grew vines – and only vines – an extremely rare agricultural practice at the time. This revolution and even more so that of rich Bordeaux merchant Raymond Fontemoing having revealed the full potential of its terroir, everyone agreed that at Château Canon as it had been renamed by the latter, they produced subtle and distinctive wines. Later in 1919 the Fournier family took over the reigns of the property before selling it to Chanel in 1996. Since then, driven by unfaltering passion, everything has been done to preserve the heritage of the founding fathers in an everlasting, untiring quest for perfection. From the revolutionary precursor to the refined architect, from the aesthetic perfectionist to the genius.
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Domaine de ChevalierPessac-Léognan
Rémi Edange
Chevalier’s history is an integral part of its identity. The true birth of the estate dates back to the middle of the 19th century. The name “Chivaley” (meaning knight in Gascon) is believed to be linked to the old pilgrim trail to Santiago de Compostela which still borders the estate. The term domaine, later replaced by château, originally referred to an ensemble, as at Chivaley, formed by a family residence or agricultural estate in which viticulture co-existed with other crops and breeding. One of the things that makes Chevalier unique is how it achieved fame in a relatively short time compared to the majority of Bordeaux great growths, which took several centuries to acquire a similar status. Only three men have managed Domaine de Chevalier from the time it was acquired by Arnaud and Jean Ricard in 1865 until it was purchased by the Bernard family in 1983. Jean Ricard is the true creator of Chevalier as we know it. However, his son-in-law, Gabriel Beaumartin, was responsible for crystallizing its reputation. In 1983 the Bernard family, until then specialized in the sale of grape brandy and Bordeaux great growths, decided to purchase Domaine de Chevalier. Considerable efforts have been made since 1983. The vineyard was expanded and all aspects of wine growing were revisited. The estate’s appearance and image changed greatly. The philosophy of Domaine de Chevalier revolves around quality and balance. Cost has never been the foremost consideration. Furthermore, the profits have been reinvested in the property. The quest for quality is an ongoing priority.
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Château ClimensBarsac-Sauternes Virginie Achou-Lepage
Château Climens has a history stretching back 500 years. Throughout much of the early history of Château Climens it was owned by the Roborel family, who purchased the property in the middle of the 16th Century. They expanded the estate and oversaw the production of both white and red wines, although today Climens produces no red. Château Climens became known as Lord of Barsac. Its history is characterized by great continuity which has enabled us to get the best out of this terroir, and maintain the heritage, whilst ever improving it. It is a rare occurrence, but only five families have owned the estate from its origins. Its surface area in a continuous single vineyard has practically remained unchanged since its creation. The name Climens meant unfertile or poor land in a local dialect: an admirable paradox for such great terroir! Vines appear to have been planted as early as the end of the 16th century. The château became one of the much-envied First Growths in 1855. Since 1971, Climens has been owned by the Lurton family. Henri Lurton acquired Climens together with Doisy-Dubroca at a time when Sauternes seemed neglected by wine-drinkers who would clamor for red Bordeaux. Since 1992, the château's destiny has been in the hands of Lurton’s daughter, Bérénice.
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Château ClinetPomerol
Ronan Laborde
Since the 19th century successive generations of families have taken over the ownership and running of the Château Clinet estate, and all have been committed to perfecting the quality of its production. In the 1860’s the estate belonged first to the Constant family and then to the Arnaud family, who also owned Château Pétrus. For much of the 20th century, ownership rested in the hands of the Audy family. The arrival of Jean-Michel Arcaute, the owner’s son-in-law, as head of the estate in the 1980‘s
marked a real turning point. He revolutionized the running of the vineyard (green harvests, defoliation, over-ripe harvesting, replanting with Merlots instead of Cabernets) and the name of Clinet became renowned throughout the world, thanks also to the support of Michel Rolland. In 1998, the chateau was bought by Jean-Louis Laborde. He devoted all his energy and vision to pursuing the evolution inspired by the preceding master of the estate. The estate has been run by his son, Ronan, since 2003.
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Château Cos d'EstournelSt Estèphe
Jean-Guillaume Prats
Between Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe, separated from Château Lafite by the stream Le Breuil Brook, the hill of COS towers over the Gironde from 65 feet above.
An impressive accumulation of Quaternary gravel (Cos, in the old Gascon tongue, means “the Hill of Pebbles”), the 173 acres of this superlative terror highly complements the vineyard’s cabernet and merlot grapes. Cos d’Estournel was founded in 1811 by Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel and its powerful, mild flavoured wine soon became a favorite of Kings and Emperors as far as India. The official 1855 classification, still in force today, crowned this success by placing Cos d’Estournel at the head of the wines of Saint-Estèphe.
After the death of Louis-Gaspard in 1852, Cos belonged to the London banker Charles-Cecil Martyns, the aristocratic Basque family of De Errazu, and the Hostein family of Bordeaux. It was purchased by Fernand Ginestet, a leading Bordeaux wine merchant, in 1917. Jean-Guillaume Prats is CEO of Domaines Reybier. He represents the fourth generation of his family to be involved in the estate’s management. Today, he is one of the youngest managers of top Médoc estates and a leader in Bordeaux’s “changing of the guard.”
Under his management, Cos d’Estournel has reached the highest level of quality in Bordeaux and has received higher scores than some of Médoc First Growths. Jean-Guillaume Prats was born into a family where wine is religion. His father, Bruno Prats, was a key figure in the Bordeaux trade. He managed Cos from 1970 to 1998. His great grand father Fernand Ginestet, mentioned above, was the owner during his life of many Bordeaux estates, including Château Margaux.
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Château CoutetBarsac-Sauternes
Aline Baly
Thomas Jefferson celebrated Château Coutet as the best Sauternes from Barsac during his ambassadorship to France. In 1855, recognized for its continued excellence, the estate was classified as a First Growth. Today, Château Coutet stays true to its tradition of distinction and quality by producing the finest Barsac year after year. Situated in the Garonne Valley and in close proximity to the Ciron River, the 95 acres of vines within the property's walls enjoy an advantageous microclimate and an exceptional terroir to produce a sweet wine with a signature style.
Château Coutet's vineyard is planted with the varietals traditional to the Barsac and Sauternes appellations: sémillon, sauvignon blanc and muscadelle. With an average age of 35 years, the vines have developed a network of deep roots to extract elements from the limestone and clay-based terroir, giving the grapes freshness, richness and strength. The wine is aged for 18 months in 100% new
French oak barrels following in-barrel fermentation. In its youth, Château Coutet's wines display generous aromas of white flowers, citrus fruits, honey and vanilla. Time brings out deeper, warmer notes in which spices combine with exotic nectars and candied fruits. Age also enhances the harmony of its roasted botrytis character to give Château Coutet a delicate and unique bouquet that is unsurpassed.
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Château d'IssanMargaux Marie-Helene Dussech
Robert Parker calls Château d’Issan “one of the stars of Margaux,” thanks to the leadership of young Emmanuel Cruse who took over management of the property in 1993. He has spearheaded a dramatic rise in quality, fueled by more than 6 million U.S. dollars in family investment. According to historical records, a Château d’Issan wine was served atthe marriage of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152. Château d’Issan is one of the most beautiful 17th century châteaux in Bordeaux, and one of the few which retains its original moat. It was acquired by Emmanuel Cruse’s grandfather in 1945 and remains privately owned by the Cruse family.
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Château GiscoursMargaux
Alexander Van Beek
The first mention made of Château Giscours dates back to around 1330 when it was referred to as a fortified dungeon. In 1552, the estate was sold for 1,000 pounds and was already recognised as a vineyard at this time. Reference is made in the Féret, considered as the bible of Bordeaux wines, of Giscours being served to Louis XIV who, it was said, appreciated the wine. Giscours passed from owner to owner, going through a period of decline which only ended when the estate was bought by Nicolas Tari after the Second World War. He undertook a general renovation of the estate, one of the most significant works being the creation of an artificial lake, which is today a key element in Giscours’ microclimate. After a run of financial difficulties, the wine growing business of Château Giscours brought in the outside investment and acumen of Eric Albada Jelgersma, a Dutch businessman, together with his family. Stretching over more than85 hectares (210 acres), of which 80.5 are in production,
and set among 300 hectares (740 acres) of grassland and forest, the vineyard is split into two separate blocks and 43 perfectly distinct plots, allowing an ideal, individualised matching of grape variety with terroir type. The mix of grape varieties is very much that found at the great estates of the Médoc, with a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (53 %). Merlot makes up 42 % of the vineyard, while the remaining 5% is composed of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
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Château GuiraudSauternes Xavier Planty
The origins of Château Guiraud are rather obscure and little is known before the 18th Century. But the property had enough of a reputation so that it was classified as a Premier Cru in the 1855 classification, and ranked ninth out of 21 properties that existed at the time. In 1981 the estate was acquired by the Narby family. Under Xavier Planty, who was appointed as the managing director by Frank Narby in 1988, the estate went from strength to strength. Xavier Planty is one of the most astutue and influential winemakers in Sauternes due to his advanced studies on botrytis and his long-time believe in organic agriculture. “At Château Guiraud we didn’t use any chemical and pesticides products for many years. We have recreated a real biodiversity thanks to natural process of culture, by the genetic diversity (we graft and plant ourselves 40.000 vines per year in our greenhouse), by practicing a management of natural under grass and studying grape diversity in our conservatory which regroups 100 different varieties.”
For 20 years, Château Guiraud has applied methods which contribute to the creation of a well-balanced ecosystem. In 2006, Château Guiraud was purchased by four partners: Xavier Planty, manager and winemaker of Château Guiraud for 20 years; Olivier Bernard the owner of Domaine de Chevalier in Pessac Leognan; Stephan Von Neipperg owner of the Château Canon La Gaffelière in Saint Emilion; and Robert Peugeot of the famous French car maker. The future of Château Guiraud looks to be very bright indeed.
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Château Gruaud Larose St. Julien
David Launay
Father Gruaud and Chevalier de Larose owned this 82 hectares estate in Saint Julien in the mid 18th century. Their two names were first associated on the label in 1781. Due to inheritance problems, the estate was divided in two until 1935, when Désiré Cordier, who had already bought a part in the 1900s, restored the domain to its original size. Since the 1980s, Gruaud Larose has been held by groups of institutional investors before coming into the hands of the family Merlaut in 1997. Located on the highest point of the appellation, the vineyard with a density of 10,000 vines per hectare is planted in 100% garonnaise gravel soil, which were deposited 600,000 years ago. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Malbec are the five grape varieties used in the blend of Gruaud Larose. The latter two varietals are indigenous to Bordeaux and give additional richness, fruitiness and concentration. The wine is more worthy than ever of its second growth status in the 1855 classification due to some intensive work under organic methods in the vineyard, such as : organic compost specifically evolved by Gruaud Larose, integrated phytosanitary protection by encouraging beneficiary insects thanks to the sexual confusion, replacement of chemicals with tilling and organic mulching, increment of the height of the trelliswork of the vines to maximise the photosynthesis process. The harvest is manual and in the cellar, traditional methods of vinification such as wooden vats and concrete are used in order to extract the maximum of richness without losing the natural fruitiness and the legendary balance of the wines of Saint Julien.
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Château LagrangeSaint-Julien
Charlotte Denjean
Grapes have been grown at Château Lagrange, St.-Julien, for more than 600 years. Even Thomas Jefferson knew its wines. A Third Growth in the Classification of 1855, it is the largest classified growth in the Medoc with 113 hectares under vine. It was acquired in 1983 by Suntory, the Japanese wine and spirits conglomerate, which has spared no effort or expense in extensively replanting and renovating the estate. The property is planted with 65 percent
Cabernet Sauvignon, 28 percent Merlot and 7 percent Petit Verdot. Château Lagrange has the largest plantings of Petit Verdot in Bordeaux, and often uses more of this grape variety in the blend than other Châteaux. Since Sept 2007, Charlotte Denjean has been PR and Communication Manager at Château Lagrange. Her main missions consist in developing the incoming activity and events on the property and the promotion of the wines on the global markets.
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L’AventurePaso Robles, California
In 1998 Stephan Asseo left France after 17 vintages at his family’s three properties in Bordeaux for the greener pastures of Paso Robles. Disenchanted with the regulatory confinement of the Apellacion Controllee system, he sought a wine field where he could express his innovative talents and craft his vision of great, blended red wine. Having searched around the world, he eventually “fell in love” with Paso Robles’ west side. This unique terroir is perfectly suited to the cultivation of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the cornerstones of his iconic blends Estate Cuvee and Optimus. These hand crafted, artisan wines are at the avant –garde of the Paso Robles blend movement, and fully express the terroir of this world class AVA. The style of the wines is due in great part to rigorous viticultural practices. Aggressive shoot thinning, selective cluster dropping (green harvest), and a high density plantation scheme of 2,100 vines per acre result in yields of 8 clusters, or one (1) bottle per vine. The vineyards are farmed bio –dynamically. Inside the winery the selection process continues, with two sorting tables delivering only the best grapes to be de -stemmed and gently crushed. Conveyors, not pumps, carry the fruit to tank. Varying fermentation temperatures and techniques (wild yeast are increasingly used), macro –oxygenation, gravity –driven racking, and myriad other technical and artisan operations lead the wines into the cellar to age 12- 16 months in 
new and one year old French oak casks. L’Aventure production is currently
at 6,000 cases. The vintage is released in April of each year to our private customers first, and then to select markets internationally. L’Aventure wines consistently gain Wine Advocate ratings in the mid to high nineties.
Château Lynch-BagesJean-Charles Cazes
The vineyard of Lynch-Bages is spread across the gravelly plateau of the hamlet of Bages, to the south of Pauillac. From 1749 to 1824, it was owned by the Lynch family of Irish origin, and later, in 1933 became the property of the Cazes family. In 1973, Jean-Michel Cazes started the renovation of the whole property, and while respecting the traditions of the appellation, implemented and perfected new production methods in both the cellar and the vineyards. The estate has been equipped with modern facilities, but the old 19th century vat room, a memory and witness of winemaking techniques of times gone by, has been conserved intact. The vineyard itself is extraordinarily homogenous and the focus of great attention: short pruning, green harvesting,
thinning-out, and hand-picking with a very selective sorting are carefully performed. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, 70% of which are renewed every year. The wines of Lynch-Bages are well-known for their magnificent complexity. They combine great elegance with a powerful structure along with roundness and richness. Their suppleness allows them to be drunk a few years after having been bottled, but they also evolve over time and can be kept many years in the cellar in order to let the finesse of their appellation assert itself.
Château Malartic LagravierPessac-Léognan Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie
Château Malartic- Lagravière is one of only six properties that is classified for both its red and white wine. Bought by Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie at the end of 1996, the estate has been completely renovated. These significant investments by the new owners have resulted in a dramatic leap in the quality of the wines. Malartic-Lagravière’s 131-acre vineyard is planted with 50 percent Merlot, 40 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 percent Cabernet Franc and 2 percent Petit Verdot on high gravel terraces. The wine, now aged for 15 to 22 months in 60 percent new oak, shows the classic characteristics of a first rate Graves wine.
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Château MargauxMedoc
Paul Pontallier
The history of Château Margaux can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was known as “La Mothe de Margaux.” Vineyards were planted on the estate in the mid 1500’s and in 1787 it achieved an envious place at the top of Thomas Jefferson's hierarchy of chateaux. In 1855, Château Margaux was one of only four wines from the Medoc ranked as a “First Great Growth.” Over the centuries, the property changed ownership several times. In 1810, Marquis de la Colonilla acquired the property and razed the old Gothic manor-house, building in its place the chateau which still stands today. Often called the Versailles of the Medoc, Château Margaux is certainly one of the loveliest and most elegant of all the chateaux in Bordeaux. In 1977 the property was purchased by Andre and Laura Mentzelopoulos, who made profound improvements in the vineyards and cellars of Château Margaux. His daughter,
Corinne, is now the sole owner of Château Margaux. She and Paul Pontallier, the general manager since 1983, are responsible for significant improvements over the last 25 years at Château Margaux. The entire estate covers 650 acres; 200 acres are planted with red varietals in a ratio of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 2 to 3% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine of Château Margaux is famous for its unforgettable aroma of violets and perfume. It is the most feminine and most charming of the First Growths. It is rich, sensuous and seductive on the palate; full of strength and grace. Its tannins are finer, lending the wine a certain transparency and clarity that is rare in Bordeaux.
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Château Rauzan Ségla Margaux John Kolasa
In the 1855 classification of the wines of Bordeaux, Rauzan-Ségla was ranked immediately below the four First Growths. Château Rauzan-Ségla is now the top-ranked Second Growth. The wines of Rauzan-Ségla from the late 19th century are now legendary but the wines from the early and mid 20th century were disappointing. Since 1983, improvements have been remarkable and the quality of the recent wines now puts this estate in the elite group of Bordeaux super-second growths. In 1994, the property was purchased by the Wertheimer family, the owners of the haute couture house of Chanel and John Kolasa was installed as the director. The 125 acre estate is planted with 54 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 41 percent Merlot, 4 percent Petit Verdot and 1 percent Cabernet Franc and the annual production is approximately 8,300 cases.
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Château du TertreMargaux
Alexander Van Beek
A huge investment in the vineyards as well as winemaking facility has paid handsome dividends, as evidenced by this beautifully knit, elegant yet concentrated Du Tertre. The estate of château du Tertre borders onto châteaux Cantenac-Brown and Brane-Cantenac to the north and château Giscours to the east. It is situated on one of the highest hills in Médoc which is where its name comes from (Tertre means knoll). It has a surface area of 80 hectares. Its 50-hectare vineyard, all in one piece, is remarkable for its excellent exposure, the composition of its fine gravel soil and the choice of grape varieties predominantly Cabernet-Sauvignon. Its wines, which show great finesse, are outstanding for their lovely colour and their perfumed aromatic savour. The estate belonged to the Seigneurie of Arsac as far back as the 12th c. Thomas de Montaigne,
the brother of Michel Montaigne, on his marriage to Jacquette d’Arsac in 1590, became the “seigneur of the Noble Houses of Arsac and of Castéra and others in Médoc.” In the 17th c. the seigneurie passed from the house of Montaigne to the house of Arrérac and to the Ségur family. In the mid-18th c. the estate belonged to Mr. Mitchell, an Irishman, who was in fact the first bottle manufacturer in the Bordeaux area. In the city of Bordeaux there is square where he had his glass works which bears his name.
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