In just a few years, this Bordeaux Supérieur from the Entre-deux-Mers region has been able to get its name on the map of superb wine makers and demonstrate the potential of its appellation as a result. It is now recognised as one of the jewels in the region’s crown, capable of competing with the most famous wines of Bordeaux.
The fruit of meticulous work
Located in the Entre-deux-Mers region (in Saint-Loubès), Château Reignac was built in the 16th century by Lord Baude de Peyron. Since 1990, it has been owned by Yves and Stéphanie Vatelot, who in just a few years have made it a noteworthy château, with the help of the consultant oenologist Michel Rolland.
The vineyard extends over 80 hectares within a much larger estate found on a clay-gravel hillside, and the grapes are cultivated in the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations. Thanks to its size and geographical location, Château de Reignac covers a great diversity of terroirs, including geological formations similar to those of the great left and right banks. The ground here is composed of Molasse du Fronsadais, Castillon marl and gravel from former alluvial terraces. The vineyard is planted with a majority of Merlot, alongside some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Two hectares are dedicated to growing Sauvignon and Semillon.
The estate has abandoned weeding in favour of mechanised work under the rows of vines; green manures (flax, mustard, forage turnip) are sown in certain plots to act as natural fertilisers, and the estate has also introduced a flock of sheep to graze in the vineyard.
Victim of its own success
It was in 2009 that the history of the estate underwent a most surprising change. During a blind tasting organised by a large jury of tasters, Château de Reignac was also in the running to compete. Among the châteaux presented were some of Bordeaux’s biggest names; think Petrus, Château Margaux and Cheval Blanc. The result came in, and Reignac was in second place, just behind Château Angelus. Whilst modest in many ways, this is not a château to be underestimated!
Another notable feature, the Château de Reignac appeared in 2004 in the manga “Les gouttes de dieu” (The drops of God), once again testifying to its unique quality.