La Closerie du Chêne, Saint Christophe des Bardes
AOC: Saint-Emilion, Grand cru
Varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot.
Viticulture: Organic certified (AB)
Size: 1.15 hectares
production: 2000 to 6000 bottles
Terroir: Iron-rich Clay, sand, limestone
Varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot.
Viticulture: Organic certified (AB)
Size: 1.15 hectares
production: 2000 to 6000 bottles
Terroir: Iron-rich Clay, sand, limestone
After a career in Aeronautics for Christian, and in cultural events and associative world for Catherine, the Paris-based couple, parents of one of Guilhaume's dearest friends Bertrand Grebaut of Septime's fame, the couple decided to move to Saint Christophe des Bardes in the Libournais, and take over a small hectare of vines planted in 1956, on the "cote nord" of the AOC, inherited from Catherine's family. "The idea was to get the best quality grapes to make it as easy as possible to vinify" and so they started "gardening" their plot, hoping to one day make a wine they could all be happy with.
The project starts in 2015 when Catherine and Christian start getting their hands dirty, but still had to provide the local cooperative their fruit, tied to a contract.
Right away they start converting the plot to organic viticulture, when sadly in the beginning of 2016 Christian suddenly passes away.
Catherine decides to keep going and for the next three vintages, she not only converts her terroir to certified organic but makes one of the great wines of her appellation, following the principles of natural winemaking, naturally fermented, low sulfur the first year and zero sulfur the last.
Being alone and going through some medical issues, Catherine and Bertrand decided to call it quits with the 2020 vintage, releasing all their wines to us at the same time.
Rarely has Saint Emilion been so joyful and drinkable so young.
Using a mix of stainless, barriques, and amphora (2018 vintage), Catherine managed to strike a fine balance between seriousness, ageability, and immediate pleasure that is not often seen in the grand cru.
WINE
Christiana 2019
They completed three vintages (2018,2019, and 2020) and the first vintage we will work with is 2019. The 2019 vintage was notably warm, with some significant mildew pressure and intense frost.
Primarily Merlot vinified in her cousin's cellar and there were fewer pump-overs, less racking, and more resting in the bottle (less barrel) than the previous/first vintage. The wine is classic in style and very much reflective of the region and appellation the ‘19 did not receive Grand Cru status hence it's not on the bottle for this vintage.
fully destemmed, 18 months in barrel, and under 20 ppm of sulfur,
They completed three vintages (2018,2019, and 2020) and the first vintage we will work with is 2019. The 2019 vintage was notably warm, with some significant mildew pressure and intense frost.
Primarily Merlot vinified in her cousin's cellar and there were fewer pump-overs, less racking, and more resting in the bottle (less barrel) than the previous/first vintage. The wine is classic in style and very much reflective of the region and appellation the ‘19 did not receive Grand Cru status hence it's not on the bottle for this vintage.
fully destemmed, 18 months in barrel, and under 20 ppm of sulfur,