WINE TASTING
Compare the different varieties from the South-West of France: we offer a tasting of 8 of our own wines which show a huge diversity in style. For dry whites we have both Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc, in rosé a dry Merlot or a sweet Cabernet Sauvignon and a sweet white with Petit Manseng. Our range of reds includes Merlot and Cabernet sauvignon but also Cabernet Franc, Tannat and the rare Carmenère grape.
We also offer tastings with a Master of Wine on any topic you care to choose. Popular themes are ‘New World versus Old World’ or ‘Sparkling France’. They are always informative but relaxed events.
Please get in contact for a quote stating the number of participants, the theme you are interested in and your preferred date.
Dimanche au vignoble
A delightful evening in the courtyard of the chateau, the weather was perfect and the setting magnificent. The local band Les Vynils were playing 80’s music whilst guests enjoyed a three course meal catered by Jean-Marie Bitaubé, accompanied by our delicious range of wines, Baron de Lisse and Marquis de Bonas. We are already looking forward to next summer!
We will post messages for all future events so you can book in early.
The Year So Far
2020 started with the rhythm of winter pruning. Spring was warmer than normal encouraging the buds to develop and then on the 26 March a heavy frost which wiped out the Chardonnay buds, seriously reduced the Merlot and touched the Sauvignon.
Fortunately, there was only a little rain at flowering and we have a good quantity of Carmenère, which is the variety that most needs settled weather at flowering. Covid-19 meant that we had two months with very few sales at the cellar-door but the upside was more time available in the vineyard which has never looked so neat!
June, July and August were warm to hot and dry which lead to fast ripening and an early harvest. The whites and Merlot for the rosé were picked over-night on 1 September. Cedric returned from the last night market of the season to receive the grapes from 23.00 to 05.00 the following morning. The benefit of harvesting by machine at night means the grapes can be picked quickly when needed and they arrive cool at the winery.
The rest of the Merlot and Cabernet franc were picked from 03.30 to 10.00 on the 18 September and the Tannat, Cabernet sauvignon and Carmenere on Sunday afternoon and evening on the 20 September. An exhausting time for Virginie and Cedric who also have the logistics of looking after their young family when they are busy in the winery.
SulPHite levels in our wine
We try to keep the level of sulfites as low as possible in our red and dry white Baron de Lisse and BL ranges. The reds are normally between 40 and 70 mg/L (note the limit for organic wines is 100 mg/l) and the dry white and rosé around 120 mg/l (limit for organic wines is 150 mg/l).
Source: Paris Match