Chateau La Chapelle Bio Saint-Emilion
WHY WE LOVE IT
- The vineyard is made up of silty clay at the foot of a hillside, with several plots more than a hundred years old which are gradually being replanted with Merlot.
Varietal Composition: 100% Merlot
Elaboration: The juice from the freshly harvested merlot grapes is extracted using vertical presses, one of which dates back to Beatrice’s grandfather. They allow for a gentle pressing that does not crush the pips which once crushed produce astringency. Fermentation takes place in concrete vats whose porous properties allow an ideal and necessary micro oxygenation. The maturation is also done in vats, in order to reveal all the terroir and the deep aromas of black fruits characteristic of Saint Emilion.
Tasting Notes: On the nose, we find spicy notes evolving towards aromas of undergrowth and blackberries On the palate, the wine is round and fruity, with powerful and ripe tannins and an elegant and long finish.
PRESS
2020 – 91 James Suckling | 91 Wine Enthusiast
PRODUCER
In 1925, Château La Chapelle was purchased by Georges Larribière. The estate, located in Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, southeast of Saint Emilion on the right bank of the Gironde Estuary, consisted of cattle, vines, and meadows. Over the years, his descendants upheld Georges’ legacy.
In 1997, a fourth generation of the family, in the person of Béatrice, took over the winemaking operation. She is well-qualified after several years of viticulture training followed by experience in the vineyards of Australia and California.
Béatrice learned about working with the vines and respecting the environment at an early age and in 2012, she obtained an organic agriculture certification. Combining her technical mastery and her instincts, she nurtures vines that are up to 100 years old.