Lussac-Saint-Emilion

The Lussac-Saint-Émilion vineyard has been protected by an appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) since November 14, 1936. Only wines harvested within the commune of Lussac are entitled to the Lussac-Saint-Émilion AOC. The Lussac-Saint-Emilion vineyard covers an area of over 1,440 hectares north of the Saint-Emilion hill, with an annual production of around 70,000 hectoliters.

The Lussac-Saint-Emilion terroir enjoys a microclimate that is favorable to vine growing, with moderate rainfall and warm temperatures in summer. The vines grow on mainly clay-limestone soils. In Lussac, the vineyards are terraced from valleys to plateaus, forming a south-facing amphitheater. This layout promotes natural drainage.

Lussac-Saint-Emilion wines are predominantly made from Merlot blended with Cabernet Franc. They express rich, intense aromas with notes of red fruit (strawberry, raspberry, cherry), supported by hints of licorice, leather, prune, and spices. As they age, they develop tertiary aromas, particularly game. On the palate, they are elegant and full-bodied, velvety and generous, with power and complexity, like the Lussac-Saint-Émilion vintage offered by Château Bellevue.

Also known as the "satellite of Saint Emilion," Lussac-Saint-Emilion's geographical location tells its story. And the artistry of Lussac-Saint-Emilion's producers lies in their skillful combination of tradition and innovation, which has earned the Saint Emilion vineyards their worldwide reputation.

The Libournais region has been populated since time immemorial. Located on the trade routes between Brittany and Languedoc, Bordeaux and its region were invaded by the Romans, led by their lieutenant Publius Crassus. The first vines in Lussac-Saint-Emilion were brought by the Gallo-Roman figure Luccius to his villa Luccianus. It is to this figure that Lussac owes its name.

After being completely destroyed by barbarian invasions, Lussac rose from the ashes with the arrival of Cistercian monks in the 12th century. Vineyards flourished around the villa Luccianus, and the town became very fashionable in the 17th century.

This small municipality covering 1,450 hectares is crossed by 11 km of waterways. 

The formation of its subsoil over the ages has given Lussac its diversity: from the northeast come the sands and gravels of the Périgord; from the east, sandy-clay formations cover the slopes and lower slopes; from the south, asteriated limestone covers the Libournais region with a huge limestone plateau.

Naturally, these soils call for these varied grape varieties. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon make up the bulk of the grape varieties listed in the Bordeaux Lussac-Saint-Emilion specifications, along with Malbec and, much more anecdotally, Carmenère.

Merlot thrives particularly well in cool, clay-limestone soils. It is this grape variety that gives Lussac-Saint-Emilion its woody, spicy, and red fruit notes. It accounts for up to 80% of the grape varieties used in the production of Lussac-Saint-Emilion.

Cabernet Franc grown in sandy clay soils brings tannins and aromas of raspberry or violet, resulting in a well-balanced wine.

Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in sandy-gravelly soils. As the basis for the grands crus, it gives Bordeaux Lussac-Saint-Emilion its robust character and notes of black fruit.

Depending on the vintage, Lussac-Saint-Emilion is aged for 14 to 18 months. It reaches its peak after 3 or 4 years of aging. However, Lussac-Saint-Emilion vintages from the northern plateaus are best enjoyed young.

At this stage of maturity, it pairs nicely with starters such as tapas, venison terrines, duck terrines, or hare terrines, as well as meats such as beef ribs.

Interesting for their aging potential, which varies from 5 to 10 years depending on the vintage and vineyard.

Pair with roasted meats: roast duck, flank steak, lamb chops; a charcuterie platter, smoked duck breast.

While 1929, 1982, and 2005 are considered the vintages of the century, 1945, 1961, and 1990 surpass all others in quality and are considered the vintages of the millennium.