Château Tour des Gendres - IGP Périgord Cantalouette blanc 2024

This estate is the family stronghold of the Conti family. Luc de Conti purchased the estate in 1981. His cousin Francis and his son Guillaume joined him, while his daughter Margaux chose another estate (Barouillet) and his son Gilles pursued a career in brewing. Fifty hectares are farmed organically, and a small portion (12 hectares) is farmed biodynamically.

Savagnin. No, that’s not a misprint—it really is the Jura grape variety. Sauvignon is also present, as is Chenin from the Loire. These three varieties are blended in equal parts—an original blend made possible by the IGP designation. Without knowing its composition, our tasters appreciate the complexity of this white wine aged on its lees, which offers a bouquet of white flowers, honey, buttery notes, dried fruit, and mandarin; they praise its fullness and elegant roundness, balanced by a hint of freshness on the finish.

Savagnin, a grape variety from the Jura region, is making its debut in the Bergerac region! A craft brewery and a distillery are further diversifying the estate’s offerings. With Gilles and Margaux de Conti, the new generation—full of ideas—took over this family estate in 2022. While creating original vintages, they continue to produce the appellation wines that have made Château Tour des Gendres famous. The estate was founded in 1981 by their father, Luc, the son of farmers and winemakers and the grandson of Italian immigrants who settled in the region in 1925. The estate, which now spans 30 hectares, began transitioning to organic farming in 1996, prior to receiving certification in 2009.

In Cantalouette, the Sauvignon dominates the Chenin and Savagnin, developing rose aromas, with a lighter structure and a lovely minerality.

The 52-hectare estate has recently been divided between the two branches of the family. Luc de Conti, who has been delighting us with his Bergerac wines for twenty-five years, has parted ways with his cousin and, together with his children, Margaux and Gilles, is building a new future for the estate. The vineyard, managed entirely using organic farming methods, produces full-bodied whites and reds that adhere to the classic styles of the Bergerac region. Beer, whiskey, and truffles will also now be part of the lineup for the Conti label’s celebrations.