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Here is an elegant wine, an exceptional terroir In the Bordeaux region, the vines are not the only things that are cultivated; a whole “art de vivre” has been established here. When Jean-Philippe Caille took over the Château l’Arrosée estate in 2002, he chose to stand by this very French philosophy.
Today, Château l’Arrosée, a Saint-Emilion grand cru classé listed in the famous
Féret guide of 1868, figures among the best wines in the region.
The 2007 vintage is a fine blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet
Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc and is a classic example of the
uncommon nature portrayed by Château l’Arrosée wines.
Rich and intense, deep purple in color.
Thanks to the weather conditions, the 2007 is a noteworthy vintage
with an aromatic, fresh quality. It has a fine nose; slightly toasty
with notes of red fruit and spice. Smooth and sumptuous on the palate with a long finish in the presence of fine tannins.
A unique location
Château l’Arrosée is situated on the southern side of Saint-
Emilion: its 9.5 hectares of vines benefit from maximum exposure
to the sun, helping make this terroir one of the most illustrious in
the appellation.
The estate comprises two different but complementary types of soil
which typify Château l’Arrosée’s complexity and characteristics:
on the hillside, in full sunlight, a clay and chalk based soil which
allows the harvest to mature to its full potential. A sand and silt
based soil forms the foundations at the foot of the hill.
Facilities that measure up to the terroir
When Jean-Philippe took over the estate in 2002, he undertook
some major renovations in order to develop production, taking
care not to disturb the vines. The wine production buildings were
in fact totally rebuilt without having to dig up a single vine. The
new facility deals with everything associated with the handling
of the grape: a fermenting room that allows for parcel-by-parcel
wine-making, two barrel storehouses where the wine can be stored
for up to 18 months and a general wine warehouse, all of which
are fully air-conditioned. The vines themselves have also been
subject to improvements. Some 500m3 of earth has been placed at
the top of the hill to prevent against erosion; an age-old practice
for vines set high up on the hillside. Major «complantation» (the
cultivation of different grape varieties on one single plot of land)
and drainage work has been carried out. The terroir has been given
every opportunity to express its full potential.
Perfection, down to the finest detail
At Château l’Arrosée the terroir and the fruit it produces are highly valued,
hence the creation of a revolutionary sorting table. This l’Arrosée patented
circular sorting table, developed by the team at the estate, enables only the best
of each bunch to be selected. The grapes continually circulate on the round
tabletop under the watchful eye of the sorter who then decides their fate.
If the bunch is deemed “suitable” it rejoins the “erafloir” (the machine that
separates the stalk from the grape) via the central urn. “Thanks to this sorting
table, the first of its kind in the world, we are sure that the harvest is effectively
sorted; there is no room for imperfection or waste. The sorters have become like
goldsmiths!” explains Jean-Philippe Caille. “
It is also this attention to detail that helps make Château l’Arrosée an exceptional wine that is esteemed by both professionals and amateurs as the rising star of Saint-Emilion.
A subtle blend for a prestigious wine
With its vines that are more than 40 years old and its three grape varieties (Merlot,
Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon), the Château l’Arrosée vineyard is
something special. But the Cabernet Sauvignon vine, rarely planted in clay based
soil, really comes into its own thanks to its geographical location, making the estate
all the more unique.
It is the blend that makes Cabernet wines great and the perfectly blended wines
produced at Château l’Arrosée replicate fully the character of this exceptional
terroir: fleshy and powerful, they are also full-bodied and perfumed. With a deep
purple robe, they offer a dense, rich nose that opens up to reveal notes of red fruit.
On the palate, the red fruit is highlighted by minerals, harmonizing the aromas,
supported by an acidity that is both fresh and stimulating. Subtle and balanced,
l’Arrosée is the very example of a great Saint-Emilion.
Château l’Arrosée 2007
Recommended Retail Price : from 32 € including VAT
Retail outlets: Lavinia Paris – 3 boulevard Madeleine – 75001 Paris or www.chateaunet.com
Château l’Arrosée 33330 Saint-Émilion – Tel. +33 (0)4 78 92 42 93
www.chateau-larrosee.com
