In 1961, Louis Rapin, maternal grandfather of Nathalie Despagneand owner of Château La Tour Figeac (Grand Cru Classé of Saint Emilion), boughthis neighbor's cru, in the Pomerol appellation. Around this small estate, hewill group other plots and rename the whole “Château La Rose Figeac”.
At the end of a succession within the Rapin-Despagne family(present for two centuries in Saint-Emilion), Nathalie inherited this beautifulestate, which she took over in August 2013. Since then, many works have beenundertaken: the restructuring of the vineyard, the creation of an operatingbuilding housing a modern vat room and a barrel cellar, a storage cellar and a"cellar". This harmonious whole is backed by the mansion whereNathalie Despagne and her family live.
Pomerol, one of the most prestigious appellations in the world, is home to the 4 hectares of the magnificent La Rose Figeac vineyard. Aunique terroir typicity, made up of gravelly sands, brings all the aromatic intensity to each vintage produced and recognized internationally. Located to the south-east of the appellation, the La Rose Figeac vineyard covers 4.56 hectares and consists of nine plots, less than 500m from each other. The grape varieties specific to the appellation, Merlot Noir(90%) and Cabernet Franc (10%) make up the bulk of the vineyard and produce pure, deep, fresh and dense wines. “I am particularly attached to this land, that of my grandfather Louis Rapin, a passionate and determined man, atthe origin of the progression of the extent of the family vineyard, in which I recognize myself. I feel invested with a mission, that of doing them honor”.
As soon as she arrived in the vineyard, Nathalie Despagne made the choice to maintain the commitment to organic farming; this environment-friendly dynamic, certified by "ECOCERT" since 2009. "Letting the terroir express itself is above all respecting it and not wanting to force it, tame it, but rather tame it in order to produce a wine, with refined tannins, pure, deep, elegant, fresh, dense, which charms (even young) when tasting. "
“There are days, months, endless years when almost nothing happens. There are minutes and seconds that contain a whole world. ” -Jean D'Ormesson
Nathalie and her advisers work to gently enhance the ecosystem; this approach is marked by respect for the elements, at all levels, in order to create harmony from the terroir to the glass. Thanks to a daily observation of her vines, Nathalie likes to point out that she feels her vineyard because she lives in the heart of it. When a treatment is applied to the vineyard, natural products are favored without synthetic molecules.
Indeed, organic farming does not allow the use of chemical fertilizers, weed killers, pesticides or synthetic fungicides.
The La Rose Figeac vineyard breathes, strengthens and benefits from the impact of natural elements. The lunar calendar, when followed to apply certain treatments, turns out to be a good ally. “I sincerely believe in the influence of certain stars, including the moon, on the vineyard. It is for this reason that each season, I consult the lunar calendar (lunar node - fruit day - flower day -root day) to carry out or not certain operations or work in the vines. "
Château La Rose Figeac is a wine estate in which a respectful harmony reigns. Nathalie Despagne and her team concentrate their efforts throughout the year to let the terroir express itself, work to develop the fruit in order to obtain, later, quality wines.
After manual harvesting, the precious grains are gradually transported to the vat room. Then begins a careful work of this noble material then deposited in four vats (corresponding to the different plots)then sent to two others, for runoff.
An efficient thermoregulation system gently accompanies the precise work to be applied to each tank: the high quality of the product is then preserved.
Several stages will follow in the development of the wines of LaRose Figeac, all of which are carried out in agreement with the consultant oenologist Mikael Laizet, from the oenology office of Michel Rolland, whose reputation is well established.
When the wine is partially developed, it is then aged in precious French oak barrels. These will work in silence in the cellar laboratory, of stone origin, for nearly 16 months.
At the end of this period, the wines are bottled at the château and can finally be shared during convivial moments with family or friends.
💰HK$320/bottle
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