Courage : bravery, energy & strength
Starting with a very rainy winter, this vintage’s vegetative cycle was special. Fertilizing and spraying programs were key elements to lead the vineyard in the right direction. The month of July, hot and dry, finally gave us some hope. The vineyard could catch up in great conditions. We needed to be reactive.
The plot by plot selection enabled us to harvest grapes according to their sanitary status as well as the ripeness. After all the bravery, energy and strength of the team during the year, this new vintage was born in the best conditions we could possibly accompany it into.
After all these adverse events, we are delighted to discover a very fine vintage with fruit and delicacy, a wine in which pleasure will be waiting for you.
Deep gravels
13ha20, 40 years old, Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
28% Merlot, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
4/5 tasted in 2014
« A nice wine with beautiful freshness and fine touche in the end. »
A VIGNERON’S VINTAGE
« Observation and reactivity are the two key words for this vintage »
The oceanic climate is back.
The winemaking process in the new cellar has facilitated the selection of parcels to express the full terroir.
“A vintage where the cabernet sauvignon revealed its best quality and allowed us to make a very nice wine with great finesse.”
Deep gravels
13 Ha 20 deep gravels
Hand picked Plot selection
18 months in 100% French oak barrels
29% Merlot, 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Le Point, 14.5/20, Mai 2013
“Red fruits, the nose is elegant with slightly candied and grilled notes, supple and elegant attack in the mouth, a litre notes of oak, fine structure ”
Recommended by Wine Spectator, 88-91/100.
“With a very elegant style, full bodied and broad. It offers beautiful aromas of prune, cherry, bergamot and black tea with a little mineral touch in the end. Complexe and very pleasant to drink.“
AN EARLY VINTAGE !
Earliness is the characteristic that can best describe 2011. Apart from 2003 and its hot summer, we can’t think of such an early harvest. Global warming is the only responsible phenomenon that explains these early harvest dates. Thus, we started harvest two weeks prior other years.
Deep gravels
13ha20; 43 years old 7 500 vines/ha; Mechanical work of the soil; reasoning of the fungicidal fight; premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
25% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, 51% Cabernet Sauvignon
The tasting notes of Bernard Burtschy, 4/5, tasted in 2012
“It’s a wine with a lot of freshness, very young and has a great potential. It will take time to come out all the beauty of this wine. ”
Bettane & Desseauve, 16-17/20, April 2012
“A perfect example of Margaux wine. ”
Quarin: 15/20
Wine Spectator: 86-89/100
Jancis Robinson: 16.5/20
“AS AN AIR OF PARADISE”
Weather conditions this year enabled us to have healthy and ripe clusters. Everything has been done to optimize this incredible potential, suckering, leaf pulling, hedging, green harvest…At harvest time everything came together: the fruit, rich and phenol extractable compounds, perfect acidity potential, healthy grapes and a wonderful weather. Throughout the winemaking process, we realized that this vintage would be perfect, unique and extremely desirable!
Deep gravels
13ha20; 43 years old 7 500 vines/ha; Mechanical work of the soil; reasoning of the fungicidal fight; premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months in 100% French oak barrels
28% Merlot, 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Wine Spectator : 90/93
“A bright, floral style, with violet and singed iron notes up front, followed by silky-textured red currant, black cherry and damson plum fruit. An iron note frames he finish.”
Terre de vin, Selection of Bettane et Desseauve : 16/20
« A touch of pepper, very rare in this vintage, which might not be preferable to the others, but not in my case. Plenty of freshness, finesse, nature and a long finish. An ancient style of Margaux, very interesting!”
Le Revenu du Vin de France, RVF n°552, June 2010 – Exceptionally successful
“This vins presents a very classic style with a beautiful texture of cabernet. Very long and it will develop perfectly. Congratulations to this great success to the property. This is one of the best. ”
Vinifera, May 2011 – Incredible harmony
“Very fine nose of red fruits, menthol and floral touch. We found all these once it presents in the mouth. Beautiful tonicity. Very successful in the balance, very digestible.”
Decanter : 17****
Fragant, elegant crushed blackcurrant fruit, good concentration of old-vine depth and will show very well. Drink 2015 – 2025
Vinum :18
Jancis Robinson : 16
Le Point : 14,5/15
Weinwisser, René Gabriel : 17
“Wine is the answer between earth and sun”
The sunny month of September with low rainfall led to a significant water stress. Levels of alcohol were very high, the maturity evolved slowly, despite a strong potential. The high temperature during the day mixed with the cool nights drove to a ripe and aromatic fruit.
Harvest started September 24th for the Merlot and ended October 6th with the Cabernet-Sauvignon under a bright blue sky.
Deep gravels
13ha20; 40 years old; Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
36% Merlot, 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
La Revenu du Vin de France RVF n°542, June 2009
« Our favorite in Margaux ! Grand vintage 2009 ! »
La Revenu du Vin de France: 2009, Vonderheyden returns!
“It’s incredible! We have to look at this cru bourgeois of Margaux in a new way. Vintage 2009 is believed a very compelling success and signifies the return of high level of cru. Entitled with a remarkable terroir and managed by Jean-Luc Vonderheyden over the 80s, Monbrison is regarded as one of the best crus of the appellation. Now Laurent Vonderheyden, the brother of Jean-Luc is in charge of the Château and make it as successful as before. Don’t miss it, Vintage 2009.”
Vinifera, Mai 2010. N°42, by Jacques PERRIN – A very exceptional vintage
« Exceptional wine » / « A wine for connoisseurs » / « Grand Wine », 92/100, MONBRISON ****
“We love the particularly successful elegance and the balance of this wine. Great notes of red fruits, graphite. Very fresh. Very harmonious body, slightly spicy notes with a beautiful persistance. Undoubtedly one of the best Monbrison in these years!”
2008, the Vintage of PATIENCE!
Climatic conditions in 2008, as in 2007, reminded us that “PATIENCE” was essential in obtaining a great wine.
Patience, Patience… But being afraid that maturity would be a very long process, sun, wind and cool nights came to offer us a perfect maturation period for the grapes.
The late harvest enabled us to achieve serenely a great Margaux.
Deep gravels
13ha20, 40 years old. Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
37% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
Vinum, June 2009 / www.vinum.info
« We can’t say that the Margaux region was particularly preferred in 2008. The quality of this property, however, was more than just great. The immerse complexity of aromas, elegance, finesse, density and length. The tannin is very fine. It is indeed a great vintage. Prefer to consume at 2016 – 2030. »
Vinifera, June 2009 n° 40
A ruby-red colour of medium intensity. Fruity nose including blackcurrant and black fruits. Beautiful entry in mouth, very precise and intense. The wine is still closed as a Monbrison bottle with a spicy character. Long finish, which brings a certain complexity.
Vinifera, Tuesday 17 May 2011 – The blog of Jacques PERRIN
Nose of white pepper with floral notes. Grilled notes, hints of balsamic and fruity aromas. Soft and elegant entry of mouth and get firm in the middle. Beautiful structure, pretty closed. It is a straight wine and thorough. A very beautiful classic wine. Fresh finish with the notes of red fruits. Very classic!
Gilbert & Gaillard 2013, Score : 92/100
Very pure red colour. Elegant fruity nose with a discreet hint of wood. In the mouth, it is big and silky. Soft tannin with fruity notes perfectly integrated. A very complete vintage and still young for the moment.
A very soft month of April let us imagine a vintage as early as 2003.
The end of the cycle sees the establishment of warm and dry weather with fresh nights which comes to reward and to value the considerable efforts spread throughout this season.
Deep gravels
13ha20 - 40 years old; Deep gravels Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
25% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot
Vinum, July/August/Septembre 2008 / www.vinum.ch : 17,5/20, Big Wine of the Year!
In this difficult vintage year for Médoc, no other château of Cru bourgeois could get out of it like Monbrison. This doesn’t mean that they look for large tannin in over maturity or high alcohol. On the contrary, it has carved tannin, aromatic expression with precision, density, long fruity finish with tannin. It shows a spectacular character of terroir and Monbrison. In terms of quality, it’s already reached the level of 2nd growth. Drink at 2014-2020.
Vinum, Mars 2010 / www.vinum.ch : 17,5/20
“It is far ahead of the tasting of Margaux Appellation and become one of the best of all the Medoc wines in this vintage. Fruits, elegance, finesse, complexity and best balance.”
Le Revenue du Vin de France, LA RVF N°539 – March 2010 : 16/20
Such a pleasure of fruit, above everything! Very beautiful expression of aromas with red fruits and floral notes. The character of its tannin will bring a bright future of this vintage.
Decanter 16,33/20
“Heady spice and cedar-flattering new oak. Smooth attack, soft and elegant. Not huge, relatively tight but well-managed. From 2010’ (SH) »
During the month of February and March, the vines were well watered followed by a period of drought in the months of April, May and June . The temperatures rose causing a rapid growing stage of the vine and back to the normal cycle.
Deep gravels
13ha20 - 30 years old; Deep gravels Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
41% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot
The Guide of Wine Hahette 2010
“Built over a terroir of graves, Monbrison is outstanding in the middle of the beautiful landscape. The wine of Monbrison has a bright and vivid garnet color and a bouquet of aromas of red fruits and a slight toasted notes. Harmonious structure, round and with a very good balance.”
Guide of Wine Glbert & Gaillard, 93/100
« Beautiful red color. Very pure nose with very promising notes of red fruits. The palate is lively with a great sap and carried by an incomparable freshness. Already a big aftertaste, a great success in this vintage. »
Le Revenue du Vin de France, LA RVF N°539 – Mars 2010 : 15,5/20 – Bottle for your cellar !
“Soft and generous in mouth. Beautiful expression of aromas. Finesse with soft tanin . Long finish”
Decanter 50 Best-Value Reds
“Seductive, opulent spice with ripe fruit behind. This is classy. Wide-ranging, expressive with evident fruit ripeness. Highly rewarding.” (HR)
“What a beautiful winter! Dry, cold, no disease… We prune shorter to catch up with quality grapes”
– Mahmoud, January 25th, 2005
“It’s the same every year but yet different: this year we enhance the trellis”
– Cyril, April 19th, 2005
“Summer starts so dry! Despite the weather, we drop grapes on young vines not to exhaust them too much”
– Maryse, July 10th, 2005
“What a potential! That’s amazing… We now have a beautiful and healthy harvest that brings pleasure to transform” – François, October 10th, 2005
Deep gravels
13ha20, 40 years old, Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
32% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
Bettane & Desseauve, Le Grand Guide des Vins de France 2010, 16,5/20
« A lot of personality and style. Very elegant notes of red fruits. Fine tanin. It is a classic Margaux wine, who was one of the great wines in the end of 1980s. »
Le Revenu du Vin de France, 16,5/20
« Soft and round. Well structured.»
After an unusual hot year and a very dry spring time, 2004 showed a very large crop coming up but a very early water stress in our region explained the incredible richness of the grapes.
In order to reach a perfect, complete and slow maturity of each variety, the month of September had been very sunny and extremely dry.
Deep gravels
13ha20, 40 years old; Deep gravels Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
56 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 31 % Merlot, 7 % Cabernet Franc, 6 % Petit Verdot
Bettane & Desseauve, Le Grand Guide des Vins de France, 15,5/20
“Beautiful and delicate aromas. Well-managed tanin. Beautiful viscosity in the mouth. Refined texture and feminin margaux wine. Indeed a very successful wine “
2003 has been the driest year we have ever been thru even though we have had, from time to time, intense rainfall. These weather conditions combined with the essence of the “terroir” offered an exceptional environment for the grapes to ripen. The various analytical parameters and yields (46 hl / ha) have proved it.
Besides, the efforts put in the vineyard (green harvest, renewal of the vineyard, enhancing of the trellis) and winery (increase in height / diameter ratio of the tanks, optimization of sorting) enabled us to overcome another step in our quest for a wine ever greater, ever more Margaux, ever more MONBRISON.
Deep gravels
13ha20, 40 years old, Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
18 months aging in barrels, among which 40 % new wood, French oak exclusively. No filtration.
55 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot, 11 % Cabernet Franc, 4 % Petit Verdot
AN EARLY VINTAGE !
Earliness is the characteristic that can best describe 2011. Apart from 2003 and its hot summer, we can’t think of such an early harvest. Global warming is the only responsible phenomenon that explains these early harvest dates. Thus, we started harvest two weeks prior other years.
Deep gravels
13ha20; 48 years old; Deep gravels Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
30 hl/ha. Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
25% new wood; 50% one year old barrel, 25% two years old barrel; 100% french oak; barrel to barrel racking; no filtration
20% Merlot, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Bouquet has a soft and very ample tannic structure. Elegant nose with dark greedy fruit notes on a very discrete oak flavour.
“AS AN AIR OF PARADISE”
Weather conditions this year enabled us to have healthy and ripe clusters. Everything has been done to optimize this incredible potential, suckering, leaf pulling, hedging, green harvest…At harvest time everything came together: the fruit, rich and phenol extractable compounds, perfect acidity potential, healthy grapes and a wonderful weather. Throughout the winemaking process, we realized that this vintage would be perfect, unique and extremely desirable!
Deep gravels
8 500 vines/ha; Mechanical work of the soil; Reasoning of the fungicidal fight, leaf pulling, green harvest
30 hl/ha. Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
50% one year old barrel, 50% two years old barrel; 100% french oak - Barrel to barrel racking; No filtration
22% Merlot, 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet France, 6% Petit Verdot
Bouquet has a soft and very ample tannic structure. Elegant nose with dark greedy fruit notes on a very discrete oak flavour.
“Wine is the answer between earth and sun”
The sunny month of September with low rainfall led to a significant water stress. Levels of alcohol were very high, the maturity evolved slowly, despite a strong potential. The high temperature during the day mixed with the cool nights drove to a ripe and aromatic fruit.
Harvest started September 24th for the Merlot and ended October 6th with the Cabernet-Sauvignon under a bright blue sky.
Deep gravels
29 acres 47 years old 8500 vines per Hectare
Hand harvested, in 30 kg picking box. Double sorting of the grape harvest
50% new oak – 50% 2 years oak barrels exclusively from French forest. Racking from barrel to barrel. Fining in barrel and no filtration.
37% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc
After a very delicate climate in 2007, everything has been done to make a typical Margaux. The second wine of Monbrison has a beautiful tannic structure with a lot of softness. The nose is very elegant with a very good fruit with a very long finish.
A wine not to be missed!
“AS AN AIR OF PARADISE”
Weather conditions this year enabled us to have healthy and ripe clusters. Everything has been done to optimize this incredible potential, suckering, leaf pulling, hedging, green harvest…At harvest time everything came together: the fruit, rich and phenol extractable compounds, perfect acidity potential, healthy grapes and a wonderful weather. Throughout the winemaking process, we realized that this vintage would be perfect, unique and extremely desirable!
Sandy gravels with clay for Moulis & sandy gravels for Listrac
3ha, 25 years old; Shared between 2 appellations: Moulis & Listrac; Mechanical work of the soil, reasoning of the fungicidal fight, premature thinning-outs of leaves.
Hand harvested in 30kg picking box; Double sorting of the grape harvest
12 months in barrel; 100% French oak; 25% new oak (300L barrel)
54% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 46% Merlot
