Even for an abstainer, a trip in Saint-Èmilion, a famous wine-growing area in Bordeaux, is really worthwhile.
The medieval village, worthily recognized Unesco heritage, is an enchantment among ancient palaces, towers, churches and cloisters.
For those who are wine lovers, a further reason is a visit to the surrounding vineyards and castles.
It is easy to organize: just visit the website of the St Emilion tourist office (or call them directly) and find the “Châteaux du jour” available.
And that is how I visited Château de Lescours.
This beautiful castle is located in Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens, 10 minutes by car from Saint-Émilion. The estate dominates about 7 hectares of vineyards and produces about 45000 bottles per year. Like all Bordeaux wines of AOC Saint-Émilion, the wine of this Château is mainly composed by Merlot (80%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. And we are talking of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, therefore of the highest AOC (or AOP) appellation.
All wines pass through a cycle of barriques, new ones only for the first year to give a final bouquet well-balanced between the contribution of the wood and the aroma of the grapes.
Unlike the common characteristic of French wines for which a constant olfactory standard is maintained from one harvest to another, for this Château an harvest may differ from another, so a 2015 Château de Lescours may well be different from 2016 or 2012 harvest.
At the end of this very interesting visit, after a passage in the vineyard followed by walking through the production and aging cellars, the tasting awaits us.
Among the various vintages I prefer 2015: the contribution of berries and black cherry as well as that violet scent that characterizes the Merlot vine is clear and fresh, and I am amazed by the only slightly perceptible note of oakwood (I admit that I am not a lover of wines that are too barricaded …) . Although the tannin is still a bit too rough, this Bordeaux can already be appreciated in its intensity and freshness. And the quality-price ratio is definitely favourable!
I really liked this choice of being “detached” from the bordolais trend (barrique, barrique and still barrique).
Another detail: the art-loving owner has installed bronze animal statues in the vineyard and in the cellar: a very nice effect during the visit!
