2019 Sansonnet

This 6.96-hectare vineyard changed hands in early 2009, not long before the devastating hailstorm of May 12th. It was purchased by Marie and Christophe Lefévère, the daughter and son-in-law of a well-known Right Bank courtier, Dominique Leymarie. Since then, it has been making a most certain qualitative comeback, as recognized in the 2012 Saint Emilion classification.

The 35-year old vineyard is planted with 5,500 to 7,800 vines/ha in thin clay and limestone soils atop the chalky Saint Emilion plateau, just across the road from Château Trottevieille. The varietal mix includes 85% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fully committed to sustainable farming, this estate has received the coveted Haute Valeur Environnementale label.

The Merlot was hand harvested between September 19th and October 10th and the two Cabernets on October 14th. Net yields were 47 hls/ha before and 33 hls/ha after saignée and selection. After a four-day cold soak at 5°C, the table-sorted fruit was moved by gravity to a battery of truncated, dual-walled, temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats and oak tanks for fermentation, punctuated by regular pigeages, and a 28-day maceration. Malo took place in barrels where the new wine will age in 500-liter barrels, in foudres de bois for an anticipated 16 months. These included 80% new barrels from seven coopers.

The present blend is 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc. 15%!
Anticipated production is about 31,000 bottles, meaning that 70% of the harvest will become the estates grand vin and 30%, its second vin. Jean-Philippe Fort consults.