Château de Parenchère - Esprit de Parenchère 2010

Purchased in 1958 by Raphaël Gazaniol, a native of Morocco, the estate currently spans 180 hectares, 70 of which are planted with vines on the best-exposed plots. As a result, 32 different plots are vinified separately and selected either for the base wine—already of high quality—or for the famous “Cuvée Raphaël,” a striking demonstration that a simple Bordeaux appellation can produce magnificent wines, or for the “Cuvée Esprit,” produced only when the vintage warrants it and made primarily from Cabernet aged for 14 months in new oak barrels. The production is rounded out by white Bordeaux and Bordeaux clairet. These are wines of character—balanced and charming—forming a cohesive range of unwavering consistency.

On the border between the Gironde and Dordogne departments stands a Périgord-style château, built in 1570 by Pierre de Parenchère, governor of the Sainte-Foy-la-Grande region, along with a vast vineyard (67 hectares of vines) that consistently produces high-quality wine. Raphaël Gazaniol, a winemaker who had returned from Morocco, acquired it in 1958 and later passed it on to his son Jean and his granddaughter Julia. In 2005, a Swedish wine enthusiast, Mr. Landin—who also owned a vineyard in Montalcino, Tuscany—purchased the estate.

This wine is supple on the palate with a silky texture. Its flavor profile unfolds with a wide range of aromas, from fruity to spicy. The wine is full-bodied without being overly complex. Pair it with meat terrines.

Located not far from Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, in the far east of the Bordeaux region, the Château de Parenchère vineyard benefits from a clay-limestone terroir with a very high clay content. The approximately sixty hectares, planted with red grape varieties, are dominated by Merlot (50%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%)—the latter on the best-exposed plots—supplemented by Cabernet Franc. Planting densities have gradually been increased to over 5,000 vines per hectare. A white wine has rounded out the lineup for the past few vintages.