Chateau Rocher Calon, Montagne St Emilion

Description

Chateau Rocher Calon is a red Bordeaux wine from the satellite Montagne St Emilion, a satellite village of St Emilion itself.

Chateau Rocher Calon History

The Chateau is owned by Vignobles Lagardere, which is run by the father and son team of Jean-Claude and Gael Lagardere. The business was founded by Jean-Claude’s grandfather, Pierre, shortly after World War One when he bought a hectare of land in Pomerol. His son, Yves, expanded the business with the purchase of vineyards in Montagne.

In 1999, Gael began the process of modernising and improving wine production with new, state-of-the-art equipment, temperature-controlled ageing cellars and introducing micro-oxygenation. Today, there are 17 hectares in Montagne and 2.2 hectares in Pomerol. Their estates comprise Chateau Tour Maillet in Pomerol and Chateau Negrit, and this estate, Chateau Rocher Calon in Montagne.

Jean Philippe Faure is the wine consultant who works for the Michel Rolland Laboratory.

About Montagne St Emilion AOC

Montagne St Emilion AOC was created in 1936 and is located in the ‘right bank’ Libournais some five kilometres to the north of St Emilion. It is the largest satellite AOC of St Emilion satellites which also include  Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin-Saint-Émilion, and Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion. The satellite villages offer some of the character of their more prestigious neighbours but offer much better value for money.

Vineyards

Chateau Rocher Calon is comprised of 16.5 hectares of vineyards planted with 90% Merlot and 10% made up of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The vines have an average age of 35 years old. The soils are clay and limestone, characteristic of the region.

Chateau Rocher Calon Blend

Chateau Rocher Calon is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernets (Franc and Sauvignon) aged 18 months in vats before release. Production is around 100,000 bottles per vintage.