Chateau Le Cros

Chateau Le Cros is ideally located on the gravelly plateau in the north-west section of the St-Emilion appellation, in the vicinity of Chateau Figeac. The property is just 2.7 hectares in size and the vines average 30 years of age. Only 660 cases are produced annually. The winery is now under the direction of the Vedrenne group based at Chateau Fleur de Jean Gue in Lalande de Pomerol. The goal here is to produce a St-Emilion wine that is like a well-polished jewel.

The soil of the vineyard is a mixture of limestone, gravel and clay. This Terroir, along with ideal exposition, combines to ensure optimal and consistent ripening. Yields are kept to a low 40 hectoliters per hectare. During the summer, green harvesting and leaf stripping are done as needed. The grapes are hand-harvested and are then meticulously sorted to ensure that only perfectly ripe and healthy fruit is accepted. Vinification is carried out in modern, temperature-controlled tanks with 2 pigeages per day, to attain the maximum of extraction. Chateau Le Cros is then aged in oak casks for 14 months, of which 10% are new, 40% are one year old, and 50% are two years old. The barrel regime is calibrated to ensure that the wine is balanced and supple on release, yet not over powered by oak.

Chateau Le Cros has a full, garnet color, a bouquet of allspice, and rich, dark fruit flavors and a touch of dark chocolate on the finish. It is a very accessible St-Emilion with a generous palate and stylish length. Ch. La Cros is equally enjoyable for current drinking — presently with red meats, roast winter vegetables and ripe cheeses – and will develop further with 3-5 years of bottle age.