COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2021
GRAPE
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
PRODUCER
Château Croix de Labrie
REGION
Bordeaux
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Château Croix de Labrie is one of Saint-Émilion's most compelling modern success stories, managed by the husband-and-wife team of Axelle and Pierre Courdurié. Originally a legendary 'garage wine' in the late 1990s, the estate's tiny 5.17-hectare 'garden vineyard' is spread across three distinct micro-terroirs: Badon, Le Cateau, and the Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes plateau. This mosaic of clay, limestone, and gravel soils yields exceptional complexity. The estate's meteoric rise in quality and prestige culminated in its official elevation to Grand Cru Classé status in the 2022 Saint-Émilion Classification.
ALCOHOL
14.0%
AVG. PRICE
€120
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Originally a legendary 'garage wine' in the 1990s, the entire production was once aged in the owner's residential garage.
Fact 02
The estate was officially promoted to Grand Cru Classé status in the landmark 2022 Saint-Émilion Classification.
Fact 03
Critics refer to the wine's Cabernet Franc component as the 'Angel in the Bottle' for its exotic floral lift.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking at Château Croix de Labrie is highly meticulous and certified organic and biodynamic. Yields are kept exceptionally low, averaging just 20 to 24 hl/ha through strict canopy management and green harvesting. Grapes are hand-harvested in small crates and undergo a rigorous four-stage sorting process, including densiometric sorting. Fermentation is gravity-fed into small, temperature-controlled vats to isolate individual parcel characteristics. The wine is aged for 18 to 24 months in French oak barrels, with the new oak proportion intentionally reduced to 80% for the 2021 vintage to preserve fruit purity and elegance.
