Château Sansonnet 2022

The typicity and richness of a Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Émilion

The estate

Located to the northeast of Saint-Émilion, the Château Sansonnet joined the small circle of Grand Crus Classés of Saint-Émilion in 2012. This very beautiful estate underwent a comprehensive improvement plan across the entire vineyard in order to further enhance the quality of the wines. In 2009, Marie-Bénédicte Lefévère took over the estate’s management and runs it with ambition, passion, and determination to bring the cru to the pinnacle of the wines of the appellation Saint-Émilion.

The vineyard

The 2022 Château Sansonnet is a Saint-Émilion wine produced from a single 7-hectare vineyard. The vines, averaging 35 years old, are planted on a clay-limestone terroir over stellar limestone of the appellation’s famous plateau. As part of an overall environmental approach, the vines undergo sustainable phytosanitary treatments with soil work. Moreover, the Château Sansonnet vineyard is committed to an SME approach and certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) Level 3.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage is marked by its precocity, a result of hot and dry summer climatic patterns. However, the clay-limestone terroir allowed for the retention and restitution of moisture, enabling the vines to develop and the berries to reach optimal ripeness.

Winemaking and aging

Hand harvesting into crates followed by density sorting. 28 days of maceration with punch-downs. Fermentation in wooden and stainless-steel truncated-conical vats. Full vinification in 500-liter barrels, as is the malolactic fermentation. The 16-month aging is carried out 70% in new 225- and 300-liter barrels, 25% in wooden foudres, and 5% in amphorae.

Blend

The 2022 Château Sansonnet is a blend of merlot (92%), cabernet franc (5%), and cabernet sauvignon (3%).