PRODUCER: Château Lyonnat
REGION: Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France
FOUNDER/WINEMAKER: Brigitte & Gérard Milhade, Hubert de Bouard
WINERY HISTORY
The Milhade family have been making wine in Bordeaux since 1938 and can now count five right-bank properties in their portfolio, including some of the most venerable châteaux and vineyards in satellite appellations like Lalalande-de-Pomerol, Puisseguin-St-Emilion and Lussac-St-Emilion. Ever since the company was founded by Damase Milhade, the family have continued to develop their portfolio in property and the quality of wines they produce - in 2009 Hubert de Bouard of Château Angelus was brought onboard as a consultant and the most recent vintages reflect his preference for well-structured but silky smooth wines.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
Since its acquisition by the Milhade family, Château Lyonnat has grown to become the largest estate in the entirety of the Lussac-Saint-Émilion appellation. A single, 50ha parcel located at the highest elevation in the appellation, the soils are divided between limestone (similar to that of Saint-Émilion), clay-limestone, and silt. 90% of the vines are planted to Merlot, with supplementary plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc filling out the vineyards. Sustainability and environmental stewardship are critical to the Milhades, as represented in conscientious farming techniques. Controlled weeding, delicate tilling, yield limitation, and increased density of vines per hectare ensure fruit is harvested at peak ripeness and quality.
In the cellar, all of the wines in the Milhade range are made with terroir expression in mind. 72 concrete vats in a variety of volume formats (32-338 hL) allow for optimal parcel selection and expert fine-tuning of the blends. Lyonnat - composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon - is a wonderful homage to the Saint-Émilion style: dense, tannic, and charmingly elegant.
GRAPE VARIETES
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
