In 2017, Jean Olivet, Olivier's great-uncle, entrusted us with his six hectares of vines located on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, east of the town, in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, in the localities known as "Sarpe" and "Grand Jacques".
Here, the shallow clay-limestone soils rest on asteriated limestone, bringing freshness and minerality to the wines.
At 101 years old, Jean witnessed the town transform and the agricultural world shift towards productivist farming. Like his parents before him, and like any farmer devoted to their land, he always worked the soil without chemical herbicides. Naturally, this path led us to organic farming as soon as we arrived in 2017. The desire to go "beyond" still drives and guides us through the vintages.
We aim to craft wines that reflect and respect the place where they were born, as well as the people who contributed to them. United by the same convictions, we move forward together: grapes brought to maturity as a team, hand-harvested, and vinified solely with indigenous yeasts.
The gestures, words, actions, and music nourish each vintage. No artifice is needed. Nature, if left undisturbed, provides the essential.
Estate acquired in 2017
Vineyard located on the limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion, east of the town in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, at the localities known as "Sarpe" and "Grand Jacques".
Shallow clay-limestone soils, over Astéries limestone
Grape varieties: Merlot and Cabernet Franc
6 hectares
Vineyard cultivated organically since 2017
(Organic certified by Ecocert France SAS)
Manual harvests and grape sorting, indigenous yeasts, and minimal intervention
2023
Merlot Plots - Clay-Limestone Plateau
A blend from the youngest Merlot vines, its primary quality is simplicity. Its light red color comes directly from nature and the short maceration time of the grapes (less than 24 hours). It was conceived and racked one harvest evening, under the moonlight.
2023
Cabernet Franc (65%) and Merlot (35%) - Clay-limestone plateau and foot of the clay-siliceous slope
In the shadow of the vines and the cellar, are the women and men without whom nothing would be possible. 'Les Figures de l’Ombre' shines a light on those who shaped this 2023 vintage alongside us.
Thanks to: Alex, Alexandre B, Alexandre D., Bernhard, Chloé, Christophe, Clémence, Colette, David, Emma, Eva, Fabien, Fred, Gino, Isa, Jean-Marie, Jean-Noël, Jonathan, Julien H., Julien L., Kévin, Laurane, Linda, Manon, Marco, Marie, Morgane, Nadir, Noémie, Rafa, Robin, Sandrine, Séverine, Sylvain, Sylvie, Virginie, Will, Cyril and his team, as well as Les Rendez-vous du Moulin.
2022
The Centenary - Blend of Merlot plots - Clay-limestone plateau
Steeped in terroir and history, this wine asserts its personality vintage after vintage. Its name pays tribute to Jean, "Jeannot", our centenarian great-uncle, who entrusted us with his vines in 2017 and blew out his 100 candles in 2024. And what if the secret to his longevity was in this bottle?
2023
The Quarry - Merlot plots from 1963 and 1965 - Clay-limestone plateau
Starting with our first harvest in 2017, the berries from two 57 and 55-year-old Merlot plots offered a more distinctive, refined profile. Harvested, fermented, macerated, and aged separately in oak barrels, they asserted their character: powerful yet elegant, refined, taut, complex, and balanced.
