Château Patache d'Aux 'Les Chevaux', Médoc, Bordeaux, France 2022
Château Patache d'Aux is a historic Cru Bourgeois estate in the northern Médoc, founded in 1632 by the Chevaliers d'Aux, descendants of the Counts of Armagnac. The château's evocative name references both the 18th-century maritime customs vessels that patrolled the Gironde estuary and the stagecoaches that once transported nobility through the region, with the three horses on the label symbolizing the three families who shaped the estate's history. Seized during the French Revolution and transformed into a coaching inn, the property was classified as Cru Bourgeois in 1932 and acquired by the Lapalu family in 1964. Since 2016, the estate has been under the stewardship of Antoine Moueix Propriétés, part of the prestigious Advini group, bringing renewed investment in both vineyard management and cellar facilities. Today, the estate is led by technical director Lucie Lauilhé with consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt, producing wines that balance the power and concentration of classic Médoc with remarkable aromatic freshness.
- WINEMAKER: Lucie Lauilhé (Technical Director), with consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt
- FARMING: High Environmental Value Level 3 (HVE3) certified since 2012; ISO 14001 certified since 2017 vintage
- VARIETY: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
- TERROIR: The 63-hectare estate is located in Bégadan in the northern Médoc, with vineyards extending across both Bégadan and Saint-Christoly du Médoc, just 10 kilometers from the Gironde estuary and 30 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. The vineyard benefits from an oceanic climate and sits on two distinct geological formations separated by 10 kilometers. The main 50-hectare parcel in Bégadan is planted on the "Bégadan limestone" plateau, with carbonated soils and varying clay thickness over limestone bedrock. The second 13-hectare site on the Saint-Christoly hilltops features gentle, east-facing slopes with terraces of alluvial gravel known as "Girondes" directly overlooking the estuary. This diversity of soils allows for optimized expression of both Cabernet Sauvignon on the gravel terraces and Merlot on the deeper clay-limestone soils.
- VINIFICATION: 'Les Chevaux de Patache d'Aux' is the estate's second wine, crafted from a parcel selection emphasizing fruit expression and early approachability. Grapes are hand-harvested and vinified in temperature-controlled raw concrete and stainless steel vats. Extraction is carefully controlled throughout alcoholic fermentation through pumping over, cap punching, and racking, with specific protocols adapted to grape maturity and profile. Vatting periods range from 15 to 30 days depending on the wine profile.
- AGING: The wine is aged primarily in stainless steel vats (approximately 80%) to preserve fresh fruit aromatics, with a smaller portion (20%) aged in French oak barrels that have seen previous use. This approach creates a wine with structure and complexity while maintaining the vibrant, fruit-forward character intended for earlier consumption.
- TASTING NOTES: Deep ruby red with vibrant clarity. The nose opens with expressive youthful berry fruit, black plums, and blackcurrant, complemented by notes of cedar, cigar box, and subtle spice. The palate shows lovely fruit concentration with medium body and fine-grained tannins that are beautifully integrated and approachable. The wine displays a solar, fresh profile with rounded structure and suppleness, offering both elegance and immediate pleasure. Beautifully balanced with layers of dark fruit, fresh acidity, and a long, smooth finish with well-integrated oak. This is a wine designed for earlier enjoyment while retaining the classic Bordeaux structure that allows for moderate cellaring.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: The balanced structure and fruit-forward profile make this an excellent everyday wine for classic bistro fare. Pair with grilled lamb chops, beef stew, roasted chicken, cannelloni with lamb, grilled sausages, aged cheeses, or hearty pasta dishes. The wine's approachable tannins and fresh acidity also work beautifully with charcuterie and terrines.
Château Patache d'Aux 'Les Chevaux', Médoc, Bordeaux, France 2022
Château Patache d'Aux is a historic Cru Bourgeois estate in the northern Médoc, founded in 1632 by the Chevaliers d'Aux, descendants of the Counts of Armagnac. The château's evocative name references both the 18th-century maritime customs vessels that patrolled the Gironde estuary and the stagecoaches that once transported nobility through the region, with the three horses on the label symbolizing the three families who shaped the estate's history. Seized during the French Revolution and transformed into a coaching inn, the property was classified as Cru Bourgeois in 1932 and acquired by the Lapalu family in 1964. Since 2016, the estate has been under the stewardship of Antoine Moueix Propriétés, part of the prestigious Advini group, bringing renewed investment in both vineyard management and cellar facilities. Today, the estate is led by technical director Lucie Lauilhé with consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt, producing wines that balance the power and concentration of classic Médoc with remarkable aromatic freshness.
- WINEMAKER: Lucie Lauilhé (Technical Director), with consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt
- FARMING: High Environmental Value Level 3 (HVE3) certified since 2012; ISO 14001 certified since 2017 vintage
- VARIETY: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
- TERROIR: The 63-hectare estate is located in Bégadan in the northern Médoc, with vineyards extending across both Bégadan and Saint-Christoly du Médoc, just 10 kilometers from the Gironde estuary and 30 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. The vineyard benefits from an oceanic climate and sits on two distinct geological formations separated by 10 kilometers. The main 50-hectare parcel in Bégadan is planted on the "Bégadan limestone" plateau, with carbonated soils and varying clay thickness over limestone bedrock. The second 13-hectare site on the Saint-Christoly hilltops features gentle, east-facing slopes with terraces of alluvial gravel known as "Girondes" directly overlooking the estuary. This diversity of soils allows for optimized expression of both Cabernet Sauvignon on the gravel terraces and Merlot on the deeper clay-limestone soils.
- VINIFICATION: 'Les Chevaux de Patache d'Aux' is the estate's second wine, crafted from a parcel selection emphasizing fruit expression and early approachability. Grapes are hand-harvested and vinified in temperature-controlled raw concrete and stainless steel vats. Extraction is carefully controlled throughout alcoholic fermentation through pumping over, cap punching, and racking, with specific protocols adapted to grape maturity and profile. Vatting periods range from 15 to 30 days depending on the wine profile.
- AGING: The wine is aged primarily in stainless steel vats (approximately 80%) to preserve fresh fruit aromatics, with a smaller portion (20%) aged in French oak barrels that have seen previous use. This approach creates a wine with structure and complexity while maintaining the vibrant, fruit-forward character intended for earlier consumption.
- TASTING NOTES: Deep ruby red with vibrant clarity. The nose opens with expressive youthful berry fruit, black plums, and blackcurrant, complemented by notes of cedar, cigar box, and subtle spice. The palate shows lovely fruit concentration with medium body and fine-grained tannins that are beautifully integrated and approachable. The wine displays a solar, fresh profile with rounded structure and suppleness, offering both elegance and immediate pleasure. Beautifully balanced with layers of dark fruit, fresh acidity, and a long, smooth finish with well-integrated oak. This is a wine designed for earlier enjoyment while retaining the classic Bordeaux structure that allows for moderate cellaring.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: The balanced structure and fruit-forward profile make this an excellent everyday wine for classic bistro fare. Pair with grilled lamb chops, beef stew, roasted chicken, cannelloni with lamb, grilled sausages, aged cheeses, or hearty pasta dishes. The wine's approachable tannins and fresh acidity also work beautifully with charcuterie and terrines.