Château Beauséjour La Petite Robe Poivreé 2011

Adventure:   

Acid:             〚balanced〛                 

Alcohol:        〚14%〛

Body:            〚full〛             

Fruit:             〚red & black〛

Tannin:          〚firm〛                   

Intensity:       

THE WINE

70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc

A dark ruby core with aromas of black cherries, blueberries, pepper, and licorice. Full-bodied on the palate with silky yet firm tannin and medium acidity. Plenty of blackberries, black raspberry, and plum notes. A juicy, beautifully structured wine that will be a wonderful companion to many hearty dishes.

THE WINERY

Total wine estate acreage: 37 acres (15 ha) including 30 acres (12 ha) of vines.
Vine density: 2225 vines per acre 
Average age of the vines: 55 years.
Soil and subsoil: Chalky-clay on a limestone base.
The grape varieties: Merlot 70%, Cabernet Franc 30%.

"Château Beauséjour" is situated on the left bank of the Dordogne River, at the top of the Montagne Saint Émilion hillside, 2.5 miles (4 km) from Saint Émilion.

This estate is the perfect example of the appellation, both due to the imposing appearance and prestigious look of the buildings (castle and chai) and to the outstanding location of the vineyard, stretching from outside Saint Martin's church (12th century Romanesque church, in the heart of Montagne village) to the five mills of Calon.

The age of the vines (some plots were planted in 1901, 1902, 1934, and 1946!) and this outstanding chalky-clay soil produce a distinctive wine, ideal for aging, magnificently produced following the guidelines laid down by Stéphane Derenoncourt since the vintage 2005.

We first met Violène back in July 2017 on her second day working with Pierre at the Chateau. Violène is an amazing winemaker and photographer – her love for life can be felt and seen in both her wine and her photos. 

On our first visit, Violène cooked for us a vegan feast! The combination of her own plant-based eating lifestyle and her talented hands made for a delicious dinner. This time, we had yet another evening of elegant wines and warm conversations. If you’re interested in the details, we enjoyed the 2012 and 2014 Petite Robe, along with the Charme 2014 and 2016. The most beautiful part about experiencing natural wines is being able to taste the differences in the years – no two are alike because every harvest is different!

Pierre’s wines are truly top-notch. He is very proud of every bottle he produces and aims for perfection. For instance, the Petite Robe is not fined or filtered at all, and it ages at least five to seven years before it is bottled. We’re hoping to introduce one of his younger wines to the Vegan Wines portfolio in 2020, so stay tuned!

Chateau Beausejour uses organic practices when producing their wines.

Château Beauséjour, created from this outstanding terroir, has now become one of the greatest Bordeaux wines.