Chateau Villemaurine

In the 17^th century the Moors set up a fortified camp in a place that was called Ville Maure, and a chateau was built later, with the name of Chateau Villemaurine, an uncommon name, on the northeast of St-Emilion.

Justin Onclin, a negociant wanting to develop his own wine, bought the estate in 2007, a total of 7 ha with clay soils on the limestone plateau. All vineyard and cellar operations are tailor-made, with modern equipment installed. There is a big underground cellar which the estate has now renovated to host visitors using latest visual and sound technology.

The vineyard is planted with 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. With bud pruning, removing side shoots and green harvesting, the grapes are manually harvested, with small stainless steel vats being used to ferment each plot separately.

A first year cellar which is relatively dry, is used to enhance the integration of wine, oak and oxygen. The second year cellar has a more regular temperature and high humidity of the former quarry, to age the wines for 12-16 months.

I have tasted the 2004 Chateau Villemaurine just now, my tasting notes:

Good quality St-Emilion with deep ruby color, a fairly concentrated and complex nose showing blackberry and black cherry, prune, vanilla and cedar, cloves, tea leaves and game, the wine has a medium acidity, balancing well with the ripe but a bit powdery tannin. Fairly full-bodied, the palate is however relatively less intense and simple, with blackberry and dark plum, cedar and cinnamon flavors. With only a fairly short finish, it is ready to drink now though has potential for further ageing of another 2-3 years.