Château Moulin de Blanchon | Fleuron de Liot
Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne | BordeauxChâteau Moulin de Blanchon is a quality-oriented family estate is located in the village of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, just north of Saint-Estèphe and perfectly exposed to the cooling influence of the Gironde estuary. This ideal location allows the Negrier family to craft a Bordeaux blend that retains a tension and freshness regardless of the season’s caprices, a red that always satisfies.
Winemaker Henri Negrier started his winemaking career as cellar master for Sociando-Mallet, and much of what he learned during his tenure there has become his own house “style,” for an equal-parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend that reflects the grip and grace of the best of the Haut Medoc.
Crucially, this is a family-run Bordeaux estate, a rare find in a region overrun by wineries managed by large interests and institutional investors. Their wine reflects an open honesty and endless respect for the great terroir of their home – a Bordeaux to savor and share. Henri works alongside his wife Martine and their two sons, Vincent and Sylvain, in the cellar and fields.
In 2009 the family expanded their winemaking reach to neighboring Saint-Estèphe, where a small estate with excellent terroir was luckily for sale. The small vineyards at Fleuron de Liot have pure gravel soils, a cool and dry corner with older vines and limitless potential. This is a micro-production Saint-Estèphe with spice and soul, glorious grip and serious concentration – a bold taste of the Left Bank for a more-than reasonable price, and an excellent wine for the cellar.
FARMING & WINEMAKING
Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, on Bordeaux’s Left Bank, is just a half-mile north of Saint-Estèphe on the edge of the Gironde estuary. Here these gentle rolling hills enjoy moderate temperatures, and the gravel-rich soils, similar to neighboring Saint-Estèphe, push Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes to a perfect ripeness.
Vines are planted densely, at some 8,000 plants per hectare; most vines are 40 to 50 years old. The estate follows organic practices as much as possible in the fields, but is not certified.
Grapes are harvested by hand, and fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Wines are aged in mostly older French oak barrels for 12 months.
RED WINES
Moulin de Blanchon Cru Bourgeois
A juicy, bold blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (with just a touch of Petit Verdot) from the gravel-rich, rolling hills of the Haut-Medoc, just a hop-skip from Saint-Estèphe. Delightful concentration and silky tannins deliver a red rich in raspberries and peppery edge, light smoke and a smooth finish.
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Fleuron di Liot Saint-Estèphe
A succulent gem with structure and elegance in spades; 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot from the pure gravel soils of Saint-Estèphe. Spice and a touch of cigar box; purple and black fruits overwhelm with silk and substance. A glorious red for a grilled steak and a value play for great Bordeaux for the cellar.
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Established: 1992
Winemakers: Henri Negrier
Region: France • Bordeaux • Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne
Vineyard size: 84 acres in Saint-Seurin, 15 acres in St-Estephe
PRACTICING SUSTAINABLE FARMING
