Chateau La Couspaude

The history of Chateau La Couspaude stretches back to at least the Middle Ages when it was known as La Croix Paute, referencing to the cross that sits at the centre of the junction at one corner of the property. The cross once served as the meeting point for pilgrims making their way to St-Emilion, towards Santiago de Compostela.

The current owners are the Aubert family, who also owns several minor properties in and around the St-Emilion appellation, but La Couspaude has been under their ownership for over one hundred years. It was acquired in 1908 by Prosper-Jean Robin and upon his death the estate was bequeathed to his son Andre-Marcel, and in turn inherited by Andre’s daughter Edith in 1963.

It was Edith who took the property into the hands of the Auberts, as a dowry when she married to Etienne Aubert. At the helm today are the three brothers, Alain, Daniel and Jean-Claude, the sons of Edith and Etienne, with Alain’s daughter Heloise and Daniel’s daughter Vanessa managing the administrative side.

The estate is ranked a Grand Cru Classe in the current classification, but the position was not consistently held, when it was demoted in the 1986 revision, just because the wine was not bottled at the chateau. It was promoted again in 1996 and stayed that way till today.

The vineyards cover 7 hectares on the limestone plateau, exactly the same site Prosper-Jean Robin acquired. The vines have an average age of 30 years, planted at 6500 vines per hectare, with 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The yields are well controlled between 30 and 35 hl/ha, using a combination of hard pruning and bunch thinning. Harvest is manual, into small crates, with a sorting prior to pressing. In the cellar the fruit is fermented in small wooden vats with temperature control, with malolactic and elevage in new oak barriques for 18 to 20 months.

The ultimate blend is typically close to the vineyard plantings, and Jean-Claude Aubert oversees the vinification, with consultation from Michel Rolland. The grand vin is Chateau La Couspaude, with a second wine Junior de la Couspaude, with the total production only about 3000 cases per annum.

I have recently tasted the 2008 vintage and below is my tasting note:

Appearance

Bright and clear, it has medium ruby color, with slight garnet rims and legs.

Nose

Clean, with medium (-) intensity aromas of black fruit such as blackberry and plum, oak notes of cedar, dried fruit of prune, sweet spice of clove, kernel notes of mocha, maturity notes of tobacco. The wine is developing. 

Palate

Dry with medium acidity, medium tannin of ripe and a bit grippy on texture, with medium alcohol and medium body, with medium intensity flavors of black fruit such as blackberry and plum, oak notes of cedar, kernel notes of chocolate, sweet spice of clove. The wine has a medium finish.

Conclusion

Good quality St-Emilion with the typical regional characters, though the nose is less intense than I would expect, but still with good complexity. The wine has good structure but the tannin is a bit grippy, with reasonable concentration and finish. Ready to drink now but can benefit from further ageing of another 2-3 years.