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BORDEAUX
– TRAVEL –
taken, none of them lack ideas for revitalising the image of
Bordeaux wines. The following is a selection of some real
gems that deserve your whole-hearted attention.
CHÂTEAU PALAIS CARDINAL:
WHERE INNOVATION SHOWCASES TRADITION
Château Palais Cardinal is an integral part of Saint-Emilion’s
heritage, and rightly so. “The wine property dates back to
1843 and is named after Cardinal Gaillard de la Motte who
helped extend it in the 16th century and matured his wine
here”, recounts Nicolas Ballande, its current owner.
Although vines have always been grown here, “the vineyards
reached a turning point between 2008 and 2019 when
they increased from 4 to 30 hectares”. The plantings have
gone hand in hand with implementation of sustainable
winegrowing techniques for 12 years, making the estate
eligible for HVE 3 and Terras Vitis certifications. The
Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines,
whose average age is 40 years old, thrive on the local
soils where biodiversity is the norm, reverting to “farming
wisdom similar to that of our great-grandparents, aimed at
protecting us from the vagaries of the weather”.
Here, a return to tradition does not preclude the use of
innovation. The fruit is sorted using a density meter, the
wines undergo cold pre-fermentation soaking, the tanks
are temperature controlled and the wines are matured in
concrete tanks, barrels or even amphorae depending on the
vintages. The result is four unique labels where the mineral
expression of the soils is the avowed aim, “with differing
focuses on power”. Consequently, there is something
for everyone, across the globe. “Our wines are mostly
distributed through a network of wine merchants and
restaurateurs in France, Belgium, Italy, South Korea, Japan,
Hong Kong, the Philippines, Germany, the United States,
New Caledonia, Tahiti and Austria”.
The tasting room at Château Palais Cardinal offers panoramic views of the
estate’s vineyards
CHATEAU TOUR CASTILLON:
AGE-WORTHY WINES
Although the history of Chateau Tour Castillon is closely
linked to that of the Viscount of Castillon, who developed
winegrowing here in the 11 th century, the present-day
vineyards are the legacy of four generations who have
been the property’s incumbents for over a century. “My
great-grandfather acquired the property in 1914”, recounts
Laure Peyruse, its co-owner with her brother Sébastien. He
The vineyards of Château Tour Castillon
WINTER 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE 47