Chateau Vignelaure

The history of the estate

Where Château Vignelaure is established, in the AOC Côteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, between the communes of Rians (Var) and Jouques (Bouches-du-Rhône), the vine has been cultivated for more than 2000 years, after being imported by the Romans. It was not until the end of the 1960s that the estate took on its current face and name, after coming under the control of Georges Brunet (former owner of Château la Lagune). The name Vignelaure refers to the vine of Laura, the muse of the poet Petrarch.

The château is one of the precursors of Cabernet Sauvignon cultivation in Provence with the first plantings in 1966 (notably from grafts from Georges Brunet's former property in the Haut-Médoc). The first vintage is produced in 1970, vinified only in red, and is immediately a success that seduces the whole region. It is in 1992 that the first rosés will appear and in 2013 that the first whites will be born.

The first cellar was built in 1972, it includes stainless steel tanks, underground aging cellars with oak tuns, concrete racks for aging wines and a contemporary art gallery that signs the second passion of the house.

The mythical Eloi Durrbach vinified two years at the estate before founding his own, Trévallon in the Baux-de-Provence. There he imported the Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend that he planted in 1973 and that would make him world famous.

Between 1986 and 2007, three owners succeeded one another, before the estate was bought by Mette en Bengt Sundstrøm, a Scandinavian couple who own an auction company.

Today, the wines are distributed for 50% in France in restaurants, including about thirty starred restaurants, as well as in exceptional wine shops, and for 50% in exports in more than 15 countries.

The terroir

In its current form, the vineyard of Château Vignelaure covers more than 200 hectares, 55 of which are planted with vines. Classified as AOC Côteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, the vineyard is located in a cool climate with large temperature differences between day and night (nearly 20 degrees difference during the ripening phases).

On each of the parcels (la Grand Pièce, la Colline and Chantemerle), we find several red grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, Cinsault and Carignan. The Merlot and part of the Cabernet Sauvignon are vinified in IGP Méditerranée. In white, we find Rolle, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Roussanne and Viognier (the last two are also classified as IGP Méditerranée).

After being taken over in 2007 by the Scandinavian couple Sundstrøm, the estate began its conversion to Organic Agriculture, which will be completed and certified in 2018.

The wines

The Chateau Vignelaure red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from old vines. Its color is a deep dark red and its nose is as complex as it is balanced (mixing spices, red and ripe fruits). The palate is dense and rich, with elegant fruity notes leading to a long finish.

The Château Vignelaure white is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier. It exudes a bright, golden yellow color. On the nose, there is an expressive bouquet with floral and fresh fruit notes. The wine is greedy and fruity, with a nice freshness in the mouth and a liveliness that encourages tasting.

The Château Vignelaure rosé is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Rolle and Syrah. It offers a pale pink color as well as a complex and fruity nose, blending aromas of peach, berries and spices. In the mouth, the wine presents a nice balance between roundness, length and freshness. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)