VIGNOBLES DESPAGNE-RAPIN / CHATEAU MAISON-BLANCHE

With family roots going back three centuries, Despagnes knows one or two things about Bordeaux. Nicolas Despagnes is now at the helm of the estate and has worked tirelessly to obtain organic certification (Agriculture Bio and BioCoherence in 2008 and 2010 respectively) and finally biodynamic certification by Demeter in 2013. The vineyards, 45 years old on average, They are mainly planted with Merlot and Cabernet Franc and are located in Montagne, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol και Libourne. Winemaking here is different from more "modern" estates in Bordeaux. Fermentation is done exclusively with indigenous yeast in stainless steel tanks and then matured in a combination of new and used oak barrels for up to 18 months with minimal interventions and sulfites.