Chateau Léognan, a vineyard full of history
The title of this post could be “Like a phoenix ,it rises from the ashes,” you will soon understand why!
For this new article I choose to go and discover Chateau Léognan, a young label. Young yes, but with a bright future!
A beautiful 17th century property, that is adjacent to the Domaine de Chevalier, it was built by the monks of Saint John. In the beginning its main activity was raising goats and making cheese.
Initially it covered 500 hectares but was split into two parts in the year of 1750, meanwhile the property served as a hunting reserve. With time and the different estate property, the domain lost much of its area until today that holds 70 hectares of which 6 are planted with vines.
In 2006, after a stroll through the vineyards, Philippe Miécaze and his wife discovered this beautiful property. From that moment they had a strong feeling for it.
The Chateau Leognan was for sale, then they made a proposal with a development project for the vineyard (restoration of the castle, vineyard restructuring, end of tenancy with Domaine de Chevalier, a wine under the label of the property …). Seduced by the project as well as offer the owners of the time agreed.
So they left their city of Paris, sold their business (medical imaging equipment) and came to settle in the Léognan.
How does he see his passion?
Above all, a fulfilled dream! Indeed Mr. Miécaze had always wanted to “make wine” something he has “dreamed all his life.”
Indeed it had been thirty years since he wanted to produce a local product by itself.
According to him “making wine is to create, give birth every year a new wine.” What he loves most in this area is “human nature that represent the people of the vine,” “people very attached to their land, their soil, in fact created from nature.
The “logo” of the Chateau Leognan
Looking closer at the emblem of the castle we discover two phoenixes in spirit to drink the chalice of Christ, a sign of rebirth. Was it a warning sign of the rebirth of the vineyard Léognan?
It is looking at the floor of the chapel that the owners discovered that emblem and thus had the idea of using it as a logo on the bottles.
Today Mr. Miécaze likes to say that “whenever a bottle is opened it is a small picture of the chapel that leaves.” An image which I find delicious. (see tasting notes below).
Some features:
- Produces two wines: Château LEOGNAN AOC Pessac Léognan (Red), Chateau Léognan AOC BORDEAUX ROSE (Rose)
Soil: sand bass and black Léognan- Grape varieties: 70% Cabernet, 30% Merlot
- 10,000 acre feet
- In line plot
- 6 hectares of vines
- Harvested by hand to ensure the highest quality berries
- In agriculture known as “responsible”
- Breeding: for 12 to 14 months with 40% new barrels, 30% of barrels a year and 30% of two wine barrels
- Producing 30,000 bottles per year
- Offers a service of cottages
Side projects:
Indeed this dynamic couple has not only one but some projects. The most plausible being the increasing number of guest rooms available. The other project that is a medium term one, Mr. Miécaze would make a white wine.
Side story:
After the restoration of the Chateau and structure (including towers) of the chapel, a tender was launched for the restoration of stained glass (80% destroyed). While we usually do not restore to the same stained glass, Mr. Miécaze made the request. A few days after he was visited by a Master glassmaker telling him “it’s me who’ll do your windows,” Mr. Miécaze quite surprised asked why. The person explained that he currently working on the premises of Henry Feur, original stained glass manufacturer. But be aware that when a Master glassmaker sells his studio he often leaves the drawings of these works. The drawings were then recovered and re-stained identically.
Still on the chapel: Normally, ever since the French Revolution no private consecrated chapel he would exist in France. But during a visit of the priest , he noticed that the consecration stone at Léognan was still there …. surely one “forgotten”.
Last info, the property offers room service and breakfast, do not hesitate to spend a nice weekend at home.
I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Miécaze for their hospitality.
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Website of Itinéraire de Charlotte
Château Leognan
88 Chemin du Barp
33850 Léognan (France)
+33 (0)5 56 64 14 96
