Producer Profile: Set against the verdant rolling lowlands of the Aquitaine Basin in France’s Southwest, Camille & Mathias Marquet are the young couple behind Château Lestignac. Having inherited a family farm in 2008, they work 7 hectares of Merlot, Cabs Franc & Sauv, Semillon, Sauv Blanc, Muscadelle & Ugni Blanc vines amidst a newly planted/planting polyculture of cereals, groves olive & fig trees, apple & pear orchards in addition to one of the most floral cover-crop situations we’ve seen in all of France! They keep livestock – sheep, chickens, cattle, and horse or two – all of whom contribute in one way or another to the polycultural farm! Practicing biodynamic, Mathias & Camille endeavor to create sparklingly fresh snapshots of France’s Sud-Ouest, a huge region that is too often overlooked as between-Bordeaux-and-the-Coast. In addition to their own vines – furthering the vision of giving more exposure to the forested wines of the region – they’ve started ‘Hors Les Murs’ (translates to “Outside The Walls”), a négoce project sourcing grapes from some of their favorite organic/biodynamically farming neighbors.

Vinification: 70% Merlot, 20% Cab Sauv and 10% Cab Franc, sourced from a certified organic and practicing biodynamic vineyard in Sigoulès, just five minutes from Château Lestignac, where the soil type is mostly clay and limestone. The grapes are hand-picked by the winemakers and then transported back to Chateau Lestignac, where they are fermented whole cluster in concrete tank for one month, then racked into another concrete tank for a short aging period to maintain freshness, and finally bottled unfined, unfiltered with a touch of sulphur at bottling. 

Tasting: On the nose, cherry cola, wintermelon, purple fruits and cannabis. On the palate, overripe blackberry, fernet and mint leaf. Texturally round but finishes crunchy, green and peppery. Serve chilled as an aperitif or as a light accompaniment to a richer meal.