Chateaux Profiles

Laurent Dassault to buy Chateau La Croix de Gay and La Fleur de Gay?

Jane Anson has reported on Decanter that aviation millionaire Laurent Dassault (the maker of Dassault Falcon business jets), owner of Chateau Dassault and Chateau La Fleur, has made an approach to purchase both Chateau La Croix de Gay and La Fleur de Gay from Dr Alain Raynaud.   Both Chateaux Dassault and La Fleur are located in Saint Emilion’ whereas Raynaud’s properties are in … Read more

La Fleur Morange Mathilde 2008

The 2008 harvest in Bordeaux will be another test of craftsmanship for the vintners with the late summer ripening the grapes right up to the last minute. Jean-Luc Thunevin (owner of Chateau Valandraud) told decanter that “If the weather continues like this for the next three weeks, we will be calling 2008 the miracle vintage”. Well, it’s 22ºC in … Read more

Château Figeac

With the sad news of Thierry Manoncourt’s passing away last week I thought there could be no more a fitting tribute than to write about his château and the great wines he produced. Thierry Manoncourt took over the Saint Emilion First Growth Chateau Figeac in 1947 with his wife, Marie-France Duboys de Labarre. Figeac had been deserted by … Read more

Château Malescot St Exupéry and the Little Prince

You may be wondering why Château Malescot St. Exupéry sounds familiar – it was the wine that charmed a dangerous burglar (see Ladies With Bottle: Bordeaux Beats the Burglar) in Washington D.C. The robber held up a dinner party at a Capitol Hill, brandishing a gun and threatening to shoot. One party guest offered him a glass of the … Read more

Château Troplong Mondot

Château Troplong Mondot Troplong Mondot is one of the biggest and most famous. The impressive château dates back to 1745 and was built by the Abbé de Séze and gained the name Troplong from Raymond Troplong, a previous owner, who was a former president of the French Senate. Trolling was a famous jurist and a lover of … Read more

Château Moulin Riche

Château Moulin Riche is the second wine of Château Léoville-Poyferré and was once a 19th century Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel estate in its own right. Second wines made by the great classed growths are well worth investigating as they are often made from the same grapes on the same terroir by the same production methods as the Grand Vin – … Read more

Discovering Château Sainte-Marie

Château Sainte-Marie is a marvellous discovery. It is produced by the Dupuch Mondon Family in the up and coming Entre Deux Mers region and will impress the white wine appreciators amongst us. It’s an excellent wine with characteristics normally associated with more expensive bottles and at £6.49 this is a real find! Château Sainte-Marie 2004 is a beautiful pale golden colour and is full … Read more