AOC Saint Estephe included 5 wineries of 1855 Grand Cru Classes ，Also included a lot of Cru Bourgeois

AOC Saint Estephe

Saint-Estèphe is one of the many famous Left Bank red wine appellations of Bordeaux, known for reds based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Situated at the northern end of the Haut-Médoc region on the gravelly western shores of the Gironde estuary, Saint-Estèphe is separated from its famous neighbor, Pauillac, only by a stream, yet there are significant differences between them. With 1,200 hectares (3036 acres) it accounts for 8 percent of the vineyard area of the Médoc.

Because Saint-Estèphe is marginally further from the gravel-bearing waters of the Garonne river, the soil here is far less stony than that found in the southern part of Haut-Médoc. Instead, a heavy clay and limestone base dominates this area, resulting in poorer-draining soils, delayed ripening and higher acidity levels in the wines.

These factors mean that, over the last few decades, many Saint-Estèphe's winemakers have increased their emphasis on Merlot, as it performs better on clay-rich soils than Cabernet Sauvignon. Because wines from here have traditionally been rather austere and tight in youth, Merlot also serves to soften the texture. Clay soils ability to retain moisture can come in handy during the occasional drought-like summers that have been known to bring a Bordeaux vintage to its knees. Other grapes permitted are Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Côt (Malbec) and Petit Verdot.

The wines are richly coloured and deeply flavored, and are known for their longevity. While most of the wine is produced under the cru bourgeois designation, it is the classed growths that continue to uphold the good reputation of Saint-Estèphe. 

Saint Estephe Famous Producers 

1855 Classification 

Deuxiemes Crus, 1855

Chateau Cos d'Estournel、Chateau Montrose

Troisiemes Crus, 1855

Chateau Calon-Segur

Quatriemes Crus, 1855

Chateau Lafon Rochet

Cinquiemes Crus, 1855

Chateau Cos-Labory

Classement 2020 Crus Bourgeois 

Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

Chateau Le Boscq、Chateau Le Crock、Chateau Lilian Ladouys

Cru Bourgeois Supérieur

Chateau de Come、Chateau Laffitte Carcasset、Chateau Petit Bocq、Chateau Serilhan、Chateau Tour des Termes

Standard Cru Bourgeois

Chateau la Commanderie、Chateau Coutelin Merville、Chateau Picard、Chateau Plantier Rose、Chateau Saint Pierre De Corbian、Chateau Tour de Pez、Chateau Tour Saint-Fort

該產區土壤結構複雜多樣，除了零星的礫石地外，大部分是黏土，西北邊還混有一些石灰質土壤。黏土的排水性不佳，再加上該產區位置偏北，氣候比較涼爽，因此這裡的葡萄成熟較慢，釀出的紅葡萄酒酸度較高，是整個波爾多產區內單寧最重、酒體最渾厚強勁的葡萄酒。產區紅葡萄酒口感酸澀剛硬，風格粗獷，單甯收斂性強，甚至帶有泥土味，經過數年陳釀之後，香氣與口感都會變得柔順，富有層次。本產區葡萄酒的特殊之處在於，酒色極為深重，酒質深邃渾厚，帶有礦物味道，卻又不失活潑。

延伸閱讀：波爾多酒 - 世界上最享負盛名的葡萄酒產區

該產區主要的葡萄品種為赤霞珠（Cabernet Sauvignon）和梅洛（Merlot）。近30年來，產區葡萄酒中梅洛的比例大幅度提升，使得產區葡萄酒越來越容易被人接受。

赤霞珠本就發源於波爾多，她喜歡深劄於溫暖的礫石土壤中併發展出深厚根系。生長於聖埃斯泰夫的赤霞珠結出來的果實馥鬱多汁，由其釀造出來的酒不僅富有黑色水果香氣，陳年後還會有幹樹葉、動物皮毛等氣息。

梅洛則偏愛黏土與石灰岩土壤，在涼爽潮濕的環境下更能孕育出色澤烏藍、皮薄飽滿的果實，釀成酒後顏色深邃，經陳年後散發出紅色水果和無花果、李子的香氣，口感也漸趨柔軟圓潤。

此外，這裏偶爾還會看到品麗珠（cabernet franc）、小維爾多（petit verdot）和馬爾貝克（malbec）等葡萄的身影。

延伸閱讀：Bordeaux 波爾多子產區詳解

聖埃斯泰夫沒有特級酒莊，但產區內僅有的五家列級莊卻都名聲在外。

愛士圖爾莊園(Chateau Cos D'Estournel)1855年獲評二級莊，被業內視為產區“酒王”，其酒風格華貴大氣，果香濃烈，可陳年極久。另一座二級莊玫瑰山莊園（Chateau Montrose）盛釀強勁有力卻不失精巧優雅的葡萄酒，堪稱產區佳釀的典範。

延伸閱讀：Top 10 Bordeaux Wines 波爾多十大酒莊

三級莊凱隆世家莊園（Chateau Calon Segur）的心形酒標讓其賺足眼球，作為一款被賦予愛意的“愛之酒”，其品質也不落窠臼，力量感與細膩感具的風格常常帶給飲客意猶未盡的品鑒感受。此外四級莊拉楓羅榭酒莊（Chateau Lafon-Rochet）及五級莊科斯拉百麗酒莊（Chateau Cos Labory）也不乏精品。

延伸閱讀：Top Bordeaux White Wines 頂級波爾多白酒

除了以上列級莊，產區內的中級莊飛龍世家酒莊（Chateau Phelan Segur）在國內一直頗具知名度，其酒風格細膩溫和，充滿濃郁的莓果香氣和紫羅蘭花香，加上複雜度與平衡度十分漂亮，真真實力圈粉。

Saint Estephe 聖埃斯泰夫優質酒莊

1855 Classification 

二級酒莊（Deuxiemes Crus, 1855）

埃斯泰夫酒莊（Chateau Cos d'Estournel）、夢玫瑰酒莊（Chateau Montrose）

三級酒莊（Troisiemes Crus, 1855）

凱隆世家酒莊（Chateau Calon-Segur）

四級酒莊（Quatriemes Crus, 1855）

拉科魯錫酒莊（Chateau Lafon Rochet）

五級酒莊（Cinquiemes Crus, 1855）

科斯拉伯麗酒莊（Chateau Cos-Labory）

2020年最新中級莊

特級中級莊（Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel）

Chateau Le Boscq、Chateau Le Crock、Chateau Lilian Ladouys

超級中級莊（Cru Bourgeois Supérieur）

Chateau de Come、Chateau Laffitte Carcasset、Chateau Petit Bocq、Chateau Serilhan、Chateau Tour des Termes

普通中級莊（Standard Cru Bourgeois）

Chateau la Commanderie、Chateau Coutelin Merville、Chateau Picard、Chateau Plantier Rose、Chateau Saint Pierre De Corbian、Chateau Tour de Pez、Chateau Tour Saint-Fort