Saint-Estèphe wine

Saint-Estephe wineBy the history of its regions and their soils, France is a country that contains a rich wine capital.tèphe : our best wines This one has an international scope. The wine of Saint-Estèphe is a very coveted product, as much by the French as by amateurs coming from all over the world. What do you need to know about the Saint-Estèphe vineyard? What food should you serve with this delicacy? In this guide, we tell you everything about this red wine.

The Saint-Estèphe vineyard is located on the edge of the Gironde estuary, in the heart of the Médoc. The estate is only about 50 km north of Bordeaux. Thanks to this privileged geographical situation, the vineyard benefits from an ideal climate for viticulture and for the maturation of the grapes. Moreover, it is located between sea and estuary.

Saint-Estèphe vineyard : some useful information

It is a vast area of 1,250 hectares that extends over a pattern of drained ridges. Its terroir, for its part, is largely gravelly. 7.5% of the vineyard is of the Medoc type. It is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.

Domains of Saint-Estèphe wines

There are several wineries within the greater Saint-Estephe wine universe. Here is a selection. Complex, dense, intense, powerful and fresh at the same time, it is long in the mouth and appreciated for its velvety and tender tannins. It is characterized by a dense dark garnet color. Its complex bouquet is dominated by various notes of red and black fruits (blackberry…), flowers (rose, peony, violets…), spices, wood (resin) or truffle. We sometimes discover notes of leather, camphor, licorice, vanilla or tobacco. In the mouth, it reveals its refreshing length and fabulous richness. This wine of character with an uncommon finesse and a rare elegance provides unforgettable sensations.
The wine of Saint-Estèphe can be tasted young but its aromas are sublimated by time. It will keep perfectly in cellars for decades. Among the best vintages we can note 2009, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1995, 1989… Without forgetting 1990 and 2016 which produced an outstanding wine. Also of note is the exceptional trilogy of 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages.

The Chateau Andron Blanquet

It is one of the oldest properties in Saint-Estèphe. The estate bears the name of an equally ancient family: Andron. Since the reign of Louis XIII, Château Andron Blanquet has not changed owners. The vineyard covers a total of 16 hectares.

Le Château Beau Site

Offering such a beautiful view of the vineyards, Chateau Beau Site is located on a gentle slope leading down to the Gironde. Again, this is one of the oldest properties in Saint-Estèphe. The estate extends over 40 hectares and is home to vines whose old stocks have been preserved with the greatest care. It therefore produces high quality wines.

Le Chateau Bel Air Ortet

It is an exceptional territory which allows to produce a powerful and tasty wine. At the end of each vintage, a great classic is born. Chateau Bel Air Ortet is located near the village of Saint-Estephe. It has a mainly gravelly subsoil. This one is well drained. The vineyard has a surface area of 3.3 hectares.

The Chateau Bernard Magrez

Located in the heart of the Saint-Estèphe appellation, Château Bernard Magrez has a unique terroir that dominates the vineyard. It also benefits from a very good natural drainage, with a temperate climate. This is due, in particular, to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary.

The domain allows to produce a rare wine of high quality. It covers 5 hectares.

Saint-Estèphe wine: what to pair with ?

To fully enjoy the intense taste of Saint-Estephe wine, we recommend you to taste it with specific aperitifs, starters, dishes and cheeses.

Appetizers

We advise you to taste the wine with the following dishes: Ras Nifa, Hare terrine, Pheasant terrine, Chartres pâté, Gisors style rabbit pâté.

The entries

We recommend that you try the wine with the following starters: Pan-fried ceps from Bordeaux, Ceps stuffed with Bordeaux style, Fried eggs from Bordeaux, Croustade avignonnaise with meat, Omelette with truffles.

The main courses

As for the main courses, here is what we recommend for your tasting: guinea fowl with grapes, roasted partridge with grapes, wild duck with bigarade, beef filet with duck foie gras, milk-fed lamb from Pauillac.

The cheeses

Do not hesitate to accompany the wine of Saint-Estèphe with these cheeses: Pavé d’Auge, Chambarand, Chambarand maigre, Rigotte du Forez, Saint-Marcellin.

Saint-Estèphe wines : the best grands crus

For the wine of Saint-Estèphe, there are in fact only 5 Grands Crus. They were classified in 1855. These are the following products: Cos d’Estournel, Montrose, Calon Ségur, Château Lafon Rochet and Château Cos Labory.

At what temperature should you drink Saint-Estèphe wine?

First of all, it is important to remember that the tasting temperature is essential. Indeed, some aromatic components of the wine are released under the effect of heat. Be aware, on the other hand, that each product has its own aromatic properties. As a result, each drink has an ideal tasting temperature.

For the red wine of Saint-Estèphe, the tasting temperature should be between 16 and 18 degrees, the same range as for a Saint-Emilion, a Médoc or a Margaux.

The beginnings of Saint-Estèphe wine

Viticulture in Saint-Estephe began to make a name for itself in the Middle Ages. It was around the 13th century, under the impulse of the monks. The wine was served to pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. From the 17th century onwards, the vineyard landscape we know today began to take shape.

Characteristics of the Saint-Estèphe wine

The red wine of Saint-Estephe has a strong character. It is one of the most famous wines of Bordeaux. It has an incisive side that is certainly due to the presence of limestone. It is a very mineralized wine with beautiful notes of red and black fruits on the first nose. For its part, the second nose allows you to discover its floral aromas.

The domains near Saint Estèphe

Here is, at present, a selection of the domains near the Saint-Estèphe red wine exploitations:

• Chateau Pomys
• Chateau La Haye
• Chateau Haut Coteau
• Chateau Lafon Rochet
• Chateau Rose Brana
• Chateau Phélan Ségur

The other appellations of the Bordeaux region

The other appellations in the Bordeaux region are

• Pauillac
• Saint-Julien
• Sauternes
• Pessac-Leognan
• Pomerol

The best Bordeaux wines to acquire

• Cos d’Estournel 2009 : powerful and velvety at the same time, with notes of black fruits on the nose
• Chateau Montrose 1989: powerful, very tannic, a little dry and rather acidic
• Chateau Montrose 1990: powerful, tannic, dry and rather acidic
• Château Cos d’Estournel 2016 : nose of red fruits, wild strawberries, floral and small black berries
• Chateau Montrose 2010: dense, rich, with imposing yet silky tannins
• Château Montrose 2015: tannic, dense with aromas of great finesse
• Chateau Montrose 1947: powerful, tannic, rather dry and acidic
• Chateau Montrose 2005: rather powerful and tannic, with a certain acidity

The best Bordeaux wines to acquire

Here are the best vintages of the Saint-Estephe appellation: 1928, 1929, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2009

It should be noted that the years 1929, 1945, 2005 are considered the best among these vintages for the red wine of Saint-Estephe.