Château Combel-la-Serre - L'Éléphant blanc 2023
91/100
Bettane & Desseauve
90/100
RVF
“A wine for friends, without pretension”
Combel La Serre's L'Éléphant Blanc is vinified using a minimalist approach to preserve its aromas and freshness. The result is an approachable wine with a charming nose of white fruit and citrus. It is a wine with a lovely finish and plenty of freshness.
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Eye
Gold dress
Nose
Charming, with aromas of white fruit and citrus, and hints of flowers
Palate
Juicy, vibrant, and crisp
Serve
At 10°–12°C
Drink before
2027
Food and wine pairings
It pairs perfectly with vegetarian dishes, shellfish, a salmon steak, tuna tataki...
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated 91/100
Rated estate (2026 guide) 3*Stars (High-quality production, setting the standard in its sector)
About the estate:
When Jean-Pierre Ilbert left the cooperative winery in 1998, he founded Château Combel La Serre. To promote the estate, the family traveled extensively throughout France. The turning point came in 2011 when his son Julien and his wife Sophie decided to switch to organic farming (certification obtained in 2013). Together, they breathed new life into this 26-hectare estate. As in Burgundy, everything revolves around plot selection, highlighting the distinct terroirs they believe in so strongly, and creating stylish cuvées with modern labels. The grape varieties are traditional for the reds, more unconventional for the whites, featuring Vermentino and Albariño, which they particularly favor. The wines’ style is precise, fruit-forward, and clearly expressive of the terroir. This close-knit couple channels their ambition and enthusiasm into their wines.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2025 guide) 90/100
Rated estate (2026 guide) 1*Star (Up-and-coming stars or quality winemakers producing wines of a high standard—you won’t be disappointed when tasting the wines from these estates)
About the wine:
From Sauvignon to Grenache, from Colombard to Vermentino, all that was missing was Macabeu to give the Éléphant Blanc its vibrant southern character.
About the estate:
Julien Ilbert and his wife Sophie are the driving force behind this vineyard, whose existence has been documented since 1900. Breaking with his father’s approach, Julien shifted the focus to bottling; he set out to forge a new identity, adorning his various bottles with striking, modern labels. His vintages are gaining in stature year after year. He draws the best from the 23 hectares planted with Auxerrois—the local name for Malbec—as well as his Vermentinos and Albarinos, southern grape varieties that find here a terroir and climate perfectly suited to them. Alongside the single-vineyard wines Le Lac aux Cochons (iron-rich limestone soil), Au Cerisier (red clay), and Les Peyres Levades (limestone), he is introducing new bottles to the range that mark the remarkable evolution of the Cahors vineyard.
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