Chateau Soutard

Chateau Soutard is a Grand Cru Classe wine estate located in Saint-Emilion. The estate has records dating back to the 16th Century, but the vineyard and chateau were established in the 18th Century. Today, Soutard is known for its Merlot-dominant red wine. Since 1836, the estate had been the property of the de Ligneris family and, prior to its sale in 2006, manager François des Ligneris was known for his opposition to high-profile US wine critic Robert Parker.

In 2006, Soutard was acquired by La Mondiale Grands Crus group, which already owned Château Larmande and Chateau Grand Faurie La Rose – both in Saint-Emilion. Three years later, La Mondiale acquired the neighboring Cadet-Piola estate, combining it with the Soutard property. Since 2006, the cellars and the château itself have undergone extensive renovation.

The 30-hectare (75-acre) vineyard is located on a limestone plateau just north of Saint-Emilion town. The vineyard sits predominantly on the clay-limestone soil of the plateau but also has smaller portions on either more sandy or more clay-based soils.

As in keeping with much of the wider region, Merlot remains the predominant variety and makes up 63 percent of plantings. Cabernet Franc covers 28 percent of the vineyard, with seven percent Cabernet Sauvignon and roughly two percent Malbec. The vines have an average age of 35 years. Chateau Soutard is typically a Merlot – Cabernet Franc blend, although in some vintages a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec may be added. The grapes are hand-harvested. The wine is vinified in a mixture of stainless steel, concrete and wooden vats and goes through malolactic fermentation in barrel. Chateau Soutard is then aged in 60 percent new French oak for around 18 months.

The estate produces a second wine, Les Jardins de Soutard, from fruit that does not go into the Chateau Soutard Grand Cru Classe bottling. This second wine, previously called Clos de la Tonnelle, is composed of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.