Château de Reignac
One of the most best terroir of the Bordeaux wine region
Château de Reignac was built in the 16th century by Lord Baude de Peyron on the ruins of a medieval fortress. Built on a clay-limestone soil / clay and gravel it was built on one of the best vineyards in the appellation.
During the 18th / 19th century the château was enlarged with the addition of such a large yard and a greenhouse designed by Gustave Eiffel (today it houses a garden).
Château de Reignac knew no major work until 1990, when Yves and Stephanie Vatelot bought the property and invested heavily in the production system (winery and winery), the vineyards, the château itself but also in the gardens. Absolutely entire property was reviewed and updated.
In 1998 the pigeon from the 16th century was also completely renovated. It was transformed into the tasting room upstairs with a small living room with a splendid view over the vineyards and surrounding the Château de Reignac. One of the most beautiful areas of the Bordeaux wine tasting.
Those investments have paid off since nowadays Château de Reignac is managed skillfully by Nicolas Lesaint (Technical Manager) and on the advice of big names such as Michel Rolland wine (winemaker) and Jean-Paul Cousinié (nutrition counselor vine) Château de Reignac has become the reference to its name (Bordeaux Supérieur) and one of the reliable values of the Bordeaux vineyards. A wine that competes regularly in blind tasting facing great classified growths without any complex.
Where do the names Château de Reignac and Cuvée Balthus come from ?
The name Château de Reignac comes from a historical fact of a previous owner but simply the name of the place says where the property is located. As the name “Balthus this wine was born in 2002 following the purchase of a parcel of very old Merlot it was then decided to make wine barrels to share fully in a process patented by Mr Vatelot, the name is a mix Balthazar the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Vatelot and a reference to a famous Pomerol also 100% Merlot. “(Marion Béchu)
What characterizes the Château de Reignac ?
Vidéo Fr & En
“The land! We’re lucky to have two main Bordeaux vineyards on our estate. We have a very deep gravel crest oldest and most plots typed Saint-Emilion, clay and limestone types.
It is close to the Curbed Ambes which allows us to have a gravelly soil with partially very serious quality as those that can be found in Pessac Léognan. The other side to Montussan are on clay and limestone soils (molasses). These soils are a force because they allow us to adapt depending on the vintage.
Its location between the two sides at the confluence of the Entre-Deux-Mers gives it a particularly favorable microclimate that protects it from the elements. “(Nicolas Lesaint)
Apart from the local character of the terroir, Reignac is also human!
“Here we live and work as a team. We’re all very invested in all levels. We work in a good atmosphere and one property on a human scale, family. Human relationships are very important in viticulture, it is part of our land!
Biodiversity and respect for his balance on the property including 35 acres of woods, pond, our work in the vineyard with the respect of our land are also important at Reignac. We work in partnership with INRA what biodiversity provides the vineyard. This approach allowed us to highlight a natural predator of powdery mildew.
We work in a process of environmental and ecological example with zero weeding, more than half of the property and working in the ranks. In order to preserve our soil.
We do not wish to be certified organic because I do not want to be enclosed by a specification, a ban me for example to use some foliar fertilizers which I believe have no impact on the environment. These trace elements are essential for micro-nutrition on the overall balance of the plant. I want to keep my freedom of action. “(Nicolas Lesaint)
What you are looking for each year by creating your wines?
“One of the great features of our red wine is good freshness that allows for long guards. They are balanced with conservation we realize that the woody base and covers the fruit at any time.
Our two reds Reignac are complementary and both provide different tastes. For the ‘Grand Vin de Reignac red (first wine), one is a powerful wine with a lovely freshness and a clean mouth feel with great wines. An explosion on the nose and mouth.
For the 2nd wine, Château de Reignac we do not look for the same style. We’re on the greed and more immediate pleasure.
As for white wines, the idea is always highlighting the fruit first. They are very air and exotic fruits. This is partly due to eggs in concrete that is used and which facilitates exchanges on lees. It has 2 hectares of vineyards dedicated to white Reignac.
Since 2011 we work a lot of these wines are made vinification in oak barrels with stirring. The concrete eggs at 20% is also used because it is found that as the wood takes over fruit flavors “(Nicolas Lesaint)
Regarding “Balthus” the other great wine Château de Reignac, it was created in 2002 when Mr. Vatelot bought two acres of mature merlot. During the first harvest juice quality so impressed the team decided to make wine from the chateau apart from this plot and create a label for it.
Side anecdote:
For the record the property is full of anecdotes. I will give you two. It says that somewhere on the property would be a treasure.
Another anecdote, of course the legend that is not verified, would like somewhere near the Château de Reignac there would be a tunnel that would lead directly to the center of the city of Saint-Loubès.
A beautiful property that I recommend you visit (if you’re in the area) and also to taste its wines!
Thanks to Marion Bechu and Nicolas Lesaint for their warm welcome.
Choukroun Chicheportiche Jonathan
Château de Reignac
38 chemin de Reignac
33450 St Loubes -France
Tel +33 (0)5 56 20 41 05
Fax +33 (0)5 56 68 63 31
