Saint-Estèphe AOC

Saint- Estèphe is a classified wine region in Bordeaux, France with a total of 1250 hectares. The municipality of Saint- Estèphe is the northernmost of the four local appellations; the other local appellations of the Medoc are Pauillac, Saint- Julien and Margaux.

Of the over fifty wineries in Saint- Estèphe has five goods to the Grand Cru certified. These are Château Cos d' Estournel and Château Montrose ( 2ième Grand Cru ), both located in the south near the edge to the neighboring community Pauillac, Château Calon - Ségur and Château Lafon - Rochet ( 3ième Grand Cru ) and Château Cos Labory ( 4ième Grand Cru ).

The wines from Saint -Estephe are generally considered somewhat stronger, more acidic and found severe than the other wines of the Médoc peninsula; already tiny, small climatic shifts a few kilometers can be in the wine will taste. Many wineries also bring about more of the earlier maturing Merlot vine in their cuvées a, which makes the wine rounder, easy to drink and ready to drink sooner.

Geological conditions

The passing to the surface layers of rock come from very different geological times. Five alluvial terraces are distinguished geologically relevant for the wine in the Médoc, however, only three of which occur in Saint- Estèphe. There are also - especially in the East - areas where bedrock is revealed.

With two-thirds is predominant, as in Graves, the 650,000 -year-old terraced rock layer. Coarse gravel and pebbles of quartz and quartzite, which is coated with sand and clay, and in some areas with yellow clay It is called a terrace 3. This formation reaches a height of 26 meters. To find these areas between Saint -Estephe and Château Cos along the D2E3 and between Pez and Rochet along the D2, each in north-south direction, but not in the Talk heirs.

Much less common are mentioned as terrace 4 formations, which are upstream of Terrace 3 to the bank of the Gironde back and reach only 12 to 16 meters in height. They originated about 500,000 years ago and consist of in yellowish- brown clay intercalated gravel. Primarily, the Châteaux Meyney and Montrose benefit as well as some other being settled in Saint -Estèphe operations of this outstanding terroir.

Even closer to the shore side there are 300,000 year old terrace 5 - designated areas consisting of sand - gravel - clay mixture. You start where the marshland of estuary end. A few meters from this edition, the roots of the vines reach the known as " Calcaire de Saint- Estèphe " limestone. This limestone is also evident in other parts of the community, especially in the eastern parts.

In the southwestern part of the growing region located soils are from the Oligocene whose base consists mainly of marl, limestone and gravel agglomerations, limestone and starfish fossils, the so-called " Calcaire à Astéries " or a marl - clay mixture. These form the substrate of the alluvial deposits of the de l'Hôpital Mignot - hill, which rises up to 30 meters.

Wineries and wine villages

The South East

As the birthplace of winemaking in Médoc Château applies Meyney few kilometers south of Saint- Estèphe, located slightly above the Gironde. Already in Roman times to have been grown here wine. But you know for sure that here in the 13th century a priory existed whose possessions Calon (Château Calon Ségur - ) included that has lived independently of crop cultivation and wine. Not later than the 17th century the monks recognized the value of the country, specializing in winemaking. Therefore, the winery Meyney is considered Pionnier the modern wine industry.

• Château Meyney today has a size of 50 hectares. The Rebvarietät is 65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Second wine: Prieur de Meyney.

The Château Montrose little south Situated on a terrace was originally heathland, was passed with roses (hence Montrose, "Rose Hill" ) and was originally the land de l' Escargeon ( "snail Heide" ) called. Today the winery is often representative of the top wines of Saint- Estèphe, whose soil conditions from clay and sand are ideal for viticulture.

• Chateau Montrose has 72 hectares of land in wine management, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 % Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Second wine: Dame de Montrose.

The two settlements skin Marbuzet, situated on a hilltop, and German in the valley together form a hamlet, in the three châteaux produce wine:

• Château Haut- Marbuzet (76 acres, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 10 % Cabernet Franc). Other brands of wine: Château Mac Carthy; Château Tour de Marbuzet; Château Cham Bert Marbuzet
• Château La Croix de Marbuzet (7.5 hectares, 60 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon). Private management. Second wine: Château Sigognac
• Château Le Crock (33 hectares, 60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 % Merlot, 10 % Cabernet Franc). Second wine: Château la Croix Saint- Estèphe

Just south of Marbuzet - German, where the D2 of Pauillac coming to the field of Staint -Estèphe touched first, is the hamlet of Cos. Here are the two Grand Cru vineyards Cos d' Estournel and Cos Labory. The term " Cos ", which was written more to the beginning of the 19th century Caux means to Alt- Gaskonisch " pile of rocks ". A very distinctive groove in which the stream Jalle du Breuil flows towards the east, separates the famous vineyards of Château Lafite- Rothschild and Cos d' Estournel and allows a natural way an excellent drainage. The hamlet of Cos is marked in a special way by the two Grand Cru Châteaux: Cos d' Estournel by its exotic style, a kind of Indian temple, and Château Labory by its opulent facade and for several generations in civil possession of Audoy family.

• Château Cos d' Estournel 2ième Grand Cru Classé (91 acres, 60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot ). Second wine: Les Pagodes de Cos.
• Château Labory 5ième Grand Cru Classé (18 hectares with 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 % Merlot, 10 % Cabernet Franc). Second wine: Charme de Cos Labory.

South and west

Only little to the east, already belonging to the village Blanquet, is the

• Château Lafon - Rochet. Roches is the word "rock", which mainly cover the ground here. This yellow- ocher-colored rock adorns the walls of the castle and the walls of the basement. Château Lafon - Rochet 4ième Grand Cru Classé (45 hectares with 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot ). Second wine: Les de Lafon - Rochet Pélerins.

In the hamlet Blanquet there are two wineries that belong to the Cru Bourgeois: In the east

• Château Andron Blanquet with 16 acres and a Rebspiegel 62 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 % Merlot, 13 % Cabernet Franc; Second wine: Château Saint -Roch. West of the site location, the 16th century
• Château Lilian Lacouys with 47 hectares (52 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 43 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc). The second wine is marketed under the name La currency de Lilian and Château La Rousselière. Although the place is surrounded by terrace 3, the name Blanquet characterizes the white color, which comes as much from the prevailing limestone here and the coming of the former alluvial gravel. For this stone, many buildings are built in Saint Estèphe, the old train station, the church and the town hall.

In the lying west of Blanquet domain, L' Hôpital de Mignot, which coincidentally has the same name as a hospital near Versailles, three wineries are located. The domain is located on the municipal boundary of Cissac. The origin of the name comes from a Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, who had built a chapel here to house pilgrims and travelers. On a lithologically complex terroir, which consists of well educated sandy loam and clay of the Oligocene, including massive limestone is located next to areas with marl and limestone, argillaceous limestone or sandy soil in the valley.

• Château Coutelin - Merville (26 acres, 50 % Merlot, 25 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot )
• Château Haut- Laborde ( 5.7 hectares, 75 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 % Merlot )
• Château Martin ( 28.5 acres, 70 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 2 % Cabernet Franc)

Outside of the local situation is not as Cru Bourgeois classifizierte

• Château Tour de Coutelin (1.75 ha).

Centrally located within the wine growing area is located Leyssac. It is the second important part of the community and has even made ​​its own school, shops, chapel and village festival Saint- Estèphes dominance at times disputed. The village is situated on a gravelly soil with clay and lime. The Chateaux of this large village and a cooperative winery are:

• Château Clauzet (23 acres, 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2 % Cabernet Franc)
• Château La Commandery ( 16.5 acres, 55 % Merlot, 45 % Cabernet Sauvignon)
• Château La Haye (11 acres, 45 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 42 % Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 5 % Cabernet Franc)
• Château La Rose Brana (32 acres, 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 45 % Merlot ), second wines: La Rose Saint- Estèphe, Château Rocher Coutelin
• Château L' Argilus du Roi (5 hectares, 50 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 5 % Cabernet Franc). Second wine: Gros Caillou
• Marquis de Saint- Estèphe ( 41.5 acres, 60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot ). Second wine: Château Léo de Prades
• Château Plantier Rose ( 9.5 hectares, 62 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot )
• Château Pomys (12 acres, 60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10 % Cabernet Franc). A special feature is the Vin Rosé " Fleur de Poumeys "
• Château Saint- Estèphe, S. A. Arnaud (13 acres, 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 % Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot ever, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and others)

Located just west of Leyssac lies the hamlet Brame - Hame. This name comes from the Gascon and means " wine -before- hungry," and recalled the time, prevailed in the great famine in the village. The winery has the same name,

• Château Brame Hame (0.5 hectares, 60 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon). Further to the west until you reach the edge of the municipality after Vertheuil the hamlet Laujac, Pradines, Troupian and Lavillotte where heights of up to 60 meters can be achieved. West Southwest of Laujac is a stripe with forest, which is excluded from the AOC area, although it would be suitable soil conditions for viticulture. The soil here consists of lime ( north oriented vineyards ) and clay - sand mixture ( south ). In particular, the vineyards of Tour Saint- Fort, which are located to the north, standing on calcareous soil. Not infrequently make fossil record between the rows of vines:
• Château Tour Saint-Fort ( 14.2 acres, 65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 15 % Petit Verdot ). Second wine: Baron d' Estours
• Château Remandine (3.6 hectares, 60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot )
• Château Lavillotte (11 acres, 67 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot ), second wines: Domaine de la Ronceray, Château Le Meynieu
• Château de Côme (7 hectares, 50 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 50 % Merlot )

The Northwest

North then Aillan located in the hamlet, the winery

• Château Serilhan (25 acres, 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 37 % Merlot, 8 % Cabernet Franc). Second wine: Château Moutinot and Chateau Real. In the resort there are four sources or wells, three of which Lavoir are supplied. Between Aillan and Pez is the district l' Hereteyre. While Aillan has only one Château, is available in Pez whose wine is growing in l' Hereteyre whose four: Petit- Bocq, de Pez, Les Ormes de Pez and Tour de Pez. The word comes from the Gascon l' Hereteyre and means " iron stone ", the word Pez comes from the Roman pes meaning foot. The base for viticulture in l' Hereteyre form gravelly soils and clayey limestones weathering sediments.
• Petit- Bocq (18 acres, 50 % Merlot, 48 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot )
• De Pez (38 acres, 45 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 45 % Merlot, 7 % Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot )
• Les Ormes de Pez ( 40 acres, 50 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot, 10 % Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot )
• Tour de Pez (32 acres, 52 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon, each 4 % Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot ); Second Wines: Les Hauts de Pez, Tour de Pez and Les Hauts de Tour de Pez

Located north of Pez Saint- Corbian is the only wine-growing village in Saint- Estèphe not immediately contiguous to other vineyards, but is separated by the channel Chenal de Calon of them. The encountered here strips with gravelly soils of sandy gravel and clayey limestone extend up to five miles away Saint- Germain- d'Esteuil. The locality with good thousand inhabitants was probably already a Gallo -Roman site; Nowadays however, one finds there only one source and an ancient dovecote. The wineries are located here:

• Tour des Termes (25 acres, 60 % Merlot, 25 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 % Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot ); Second Wines: Préface de tour of Termes, Chateau Saint- Corbian and Chateau Haut Baradieu
• Beau-Site Haut- Vignoble ( 19.5 acres, 55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot )
• Skin Coteau ( 19.5 acres, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 20 % Cabernet Franc)
• Beau-Site (25 acres, 70 % Merlot, 24 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot ); Second wine: Château Haut- Vignoble Seguin
• (all in the north) Le Boscq (18 acres, 60 % Merlot, 27 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 % Petit Verdot, 3 % Cabernet Franc); Second wine: Héritage de Le Boscq

The Northeast

The immediate west of the town of Saint- Estèphe is situated district Calon, whose history goes back to an ancient settlement. Here is the seat of

• Château Calon Ségur - (55 acres, 62 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 37 % Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot ). The name derives from the Gascon Calon meaning " small wooden boats " from. It is believed that this name comes from the time when the great marshes were made ​​navigable using today just north extending channel. The noble house of Calon was an important fortress in the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, the wealthy family of Ségur has her name in the history of this wine, with the nickname " the prince of grapes " consolidated. Leading the way was, among others, Alexandre de Ségur, who worked among others at Lafite and Latour. The old building and its vineyards are protected by long stone walls and undulating, gravelly soils; an exceptional place near the village of Saint -Estèphe. Today there is the old place from which he is said to have consisted of up to 50 houses, not more. The church was demolished in the 18th century.

To Saint- Estèphe around one distinguishes five districts: Garamey, Lacroix, Picard, canteloup and Fontaugé:

• Château Valrose (5 hectares, 50 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 50 % Merlot )
• Château Domeyne ( 8.5 hectares, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 60 % Merlot ); Second wine: Château Saget
• Château Haut- Beauséjour ( 20 acres, 52 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 8% Malbec )
• Château Picard (8.25 hectares, 85 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 % Merlot ); Second wine: Family Reserve Saint- Estèphe
• Château Bel- Air ( 5 hectares, 70 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot ); Second wine: Château Les Hauts de Baradiou
• Château Capbern Gasqueton (38 acres, 62 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 37 % Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot )