Red
Bordeaux
Merlot Based
Cork
Medium Body
Integrated Oak
Sustainable
ABV 14.5%
Tasting notes
Rich, sensuous, supple, full-bodied, ripe, often sweet, and juicy. Pairs best with roasts and hard cheeses.
Why we recommend this wine
We have long been fans of St Emillion merlot-based wines, and this is an excellent example. Wine critics obviously agree with us as the Chateau regularly gets scores in the mid-90s.
The wine
The vineyard is one plot of 7 ha. clay on limestone on the top of the plateau of Saint-Emilion just a little bit east of the St. Emilion village. Planted grape varieties are 85% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon; the precise blend varies a bit by vintage. The average age of the vineyard is 35 years old. All the tasks during the growing period are by hand (disbudding, thinning out the leaves and harvesting the grapes). Vinification is in temperature controlled stainless steel and wood vats. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is then aged in 2 Amphoras of 7.5 Hl and 70 % new French oak barrels for 14 months.
The wine estate
Chateau Sansonnet, like many Bordeaux estates, has a connection to royalty. During the 19th century, Chateau Sansonnet at one point belonged to the Duke Decazes, Prime Minister of Louis XVIII. The Robin family had owned the vineyard since 1892. In 1999 they sold it to the former owners of the famous Champagne producer, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne. They upgraded the estate and sold the property a decade later to the Lefevere family, who own a few other Chateau in the area. In 2012 Château Sansonnet was elected into the very closed circle of Grands Crus Classés of Saint-Emilion.
chateau-sansonnet.com
Food and wine
Best served with all types of classic meat dishes - roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. It is also a great match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as hard cheese. Refer also to our food and wine pairing guide, click here.
Did you know?
In addition to the Bordeaux Left Bank being dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon the Right Bank is home to Merlot their basis of classifying Chateau also differs. The Left Bank has the Classification of 1855 requested by Emperor Napoleon III which never changes; the Right Bank Grands Crus Classés of Saint-Emilion changes periodically with huge political infighting and legal challenges to changes; Pomerol, the other main Right Bank wine area has no classifications even though some of their wines are the most expensive in the world.
Rich, sensuous, supple, full-bodied, ripe, often sweet, and juicy. Pairs best with roasts and hard cheeses.
Why we recommend this wine
We have long been fans of St Emillion merlot-based wines, and this is an excellent example. Wine critics obviously agree with us as the Chateau regularly gets scores in the mid-90s.
The wine
The vineyard is one plot of 7 ha. clay on limestone on the top of the plateau of Saint-Emilion just a little bit east of the St. Emilion village. Planted grape varieties are 85% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon; the precise blend varies a bit by vintage. The average age of the vineyard is 35 years old. All the tasks during the growing period are by hand (disbudding, thinning out the leaves and harvesting the grapes). Vinification is in temperature controlled stainless steel and wood vats. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is then aged in 2 Amphoras of 7.5 Hl and 70 % new French oak barrels for 14 months.
The wine estate
Chateau Sansonnet, like many Bordeaux estates, has a connection to royalty. During the 19th century, Chateau Sansonnet at one point belonged to the Duke Decazes, Prime Minister of Louis XVIII. The Robin family had owned the vineyard since 1892. In 1999 they sold it to the former owners of the famous Champagne producer, Piper-Heidsieck Champagne. They upgraded the estate and sold the property a decade later to the Lefevere family, who own a few other Chateau in the area. In 2012 Château Sansonnet was elected into the very closed circle of Grands Crus Classés of Saint-Emilion.
chateau-sansonnet.com
Food and wine
Best served with all types of classic meat dishes - roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. It is also a great match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as hard cheese. Refer also to our food and wine pairing guide, click here.
Did you know?
In addition to the Bordeaux Left Bank being dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon the Right Bank is home to Merlot their basis of classifying Chateau also differs. The Left Bank has the Classification of 1855 requested by Emperor Napoleon III which never changes; the Right Bank Grands Crus Classés of Saint-Emilion changes periodically with huge political infighting and legal challenges to changes; Pomerol, the other main Right Bank wine area has no classifications even though some of their wines are the most expensive in the world.