Château St. Georges Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion 2015

With just a mere 5 hectare estate, the Chateau St Georges St Emilion is one of the best value wines in Bordeaux. The estate has changed hands several times since the French Revolution until it was bought by Petrus Desbois in 1891, to be used as his summer residence. Since then it has remained a private family home and vineyard, carefully nurtured by each generation. 

The history of Saint-Georges goes back to Gallo - Roman times. The domain extended over 1000 ‘arpents’ which represents 263 hectares and corresponds approximately to the surface of the entire parish of Saint-Georges. The Château Saint-Georges and its land was sold on 27 October 1602 by Henry IV to Jean Barbot for a sum of 1500 pounds. The purchaser attained, in addition, the title of Baron. It was the ‘Sieur de Bouchereau’ the new and last Baron of Saint-Georges who commissioned the reputed neo-classical architect Victor Louis (Grand Theatre of Bordeaux, Place de Palais Royal in Paris) to reconstruct the feudal château in 1772, keeping nevertheless the four corner towers. If the Revolution spared this jewel of 18th century architecture, phylloxera destroyed its vines and the estate started to go downhill. It passed though the hands of several owners until 19 November 1891 when it was purchased by Pétrus Desbois who restored the vineyards by grafting the French vines with American rootstocks.

The estate has changed hands several times since the French Revolution until it was bought by Petrus Desbois in 1891, to be used as his summer residence. Since then it has remained a private family home and vineyard, carefully nurtured by each generation. The first Petrus Desbois resuscitated the beleaguered vineyards by grafting French vines onto American rootstock. Then in 1945, his son Petrus Desbois took over and it was under his stewardship that Saint-Georges began producing a world-renowned wine. Today, his son Georges Desbois presides over the estate, and creates well-balanced, elegant wines, celebrated for their ability to age.

Chateau Saint-Georges is the premier label. It's a blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. 50% of the oak barrels used for aging are renewed each year, and the wine is aged in the barrels for 15-18 months.

The 2015 St. Georges is medium to deep garnet-purple in colour with a nose of stewed plums and warm blackberries with wafts of underbrush and mossy bark. Medium to full-bodied, restrained and earthy in the mouth, it has a chewy backbone and somewhat rustic finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate.

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal -  Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Country - France
Region - Bordeaux
Vintage - 2015
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%