Domaine de l'A - Derenoncourt, 2020
Côtes de Castillon 2020
Côtes de Castillon 2020
The wine has a fruity, smooth style with a beautiful balance between ripe red fruit (such as plums, cherries, and berries) and the typical Bordeaux characteristics of earthy notes, spices, and a certain structure. The wine has a pleasant tannin structure and can age well.
Meer over Domaine de l'A - Derenoncourt
Meer over Domaine de l'A - Derenoncourt
Côtes Castillon de Bordeaux, not the most luxurious area of Bordeaux, but that is precisely why Stéphane Derenoncourt started Domaine de l’A here. The story of Domaine de l’A is impossible to tell without knowing Stéphane's history. Now known as one of Bordeaux's most renowned consultants and winemakers, Stéphane had humble beginnings and is completely self-taught. At 22, he hitchhiked to Fronsac to work in the vineyards there. After a few harvests, he found work in the cellar of Chateau Fronsac and two years later, he moved on to Chateau La Fleur Cailleau. In 1990, he got his 'big break' as a winemaker at Pavie-Macquin (Saint-Emilion). In 1996, he became the winemaker for all of Stephan von Neipperg's chateaux, including Canon-la-Gaffelière (Saint-Emilion).
In 1997, Stéphane first started consulting, and in 1999, he founded Vignerons Consultants with his wife. By 2010, the company had grown significantly, and its name was changed to Derenoncourt Consultants; today, Derenoncourt's portfolio includes 152 wineries in 17 countries.
Domaine de l’A is Derenoncourt's playground, where he aims to showcase quality in less prestigious parts of Bordeaux. The vineyards of Domaine de l’A cover 11 hectares in the commune of Sainte-Colombe, spread across various plots with varying soil compositions. There is a lot of clay present, with tuff and limestone underneath. Each plot is handled appropriately, with a focus on low yields to ensure the wine's balance and intensity. Domaine de l’A is made with the idea that it is approachable when young without sacrificing its aging potential.
Everything at Domaine de l’A revolves around respect for the land, with biodynamic principles in the vineyard, but also in how the cellar is built. Only local materials were used, so not a single gram of cement was used in its construction. Fermentation is spontaneous with indigenous yeasts, and all aging takes place in small oak barrels for 16 to 18 months, depending on the vintage. It's that simple: one cellar completely dedicated to perfecting one wine.
