The vineyard
Château des Rêves, a new look
Discovering a 4.5-hectare gem of a vineyard/h3>
Château des Rêves is a 4.5-hectare, single-holding estate in the Saint-Émilion jurisdiction, with AOP Saint-Émilion Grand Cru status.
At its center is the winegrower’s house, built in the 15th century. This venerable building has seen generations of winegrowers come and go. Its cellars have been renovated over the years to the highest standards, most notably by the latest owner, Stéphane Bedenc.
The generosity of the earth for an exceptional terroir
The presence of gravel attests to the presence of the Dordogne a few million years ago, in the Lower Pleistocene.
These gravels formed the Moyenne Terrasse of the Grand-Saint-Émilionnais territory. This guarantees ideal sun exposure for the vines, from morning to night, ideal for the production of prestigious wines. The terroir also benefits from a temperate oceanic microclimate with an average annual temperature of 12.8°C. Summers are hot and dry, winters moderate and wet.
This silty-clay-gravelly terroir is well drained, making it ideal for vine-growing. The sand contained in the soil allows for rapid drainage after rainfall.
The power of the vines, the strength of a great wine
The planting density at Château des Rêves is around 5,000 vines per hectare, producing 5,000 bottles. In other words, one vine gives life to one bottle of grand cru.
Traditionally Saint-Émilion, the vineyard is dominated by Merlot (90%), with Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). Merlot is the grape of excellence in Saint-Émilion. It brings roundness, fruit, fullness and suppleness to the wine. Cabernet brings structure. It’s like the wine’s backbone, supporting its tannic structure.
The Château des Rêves vines are in the prime of their lives, averaging 30 years old, allowing these 2 grape varieties to ripen perfectly. The oldest vines are 50 years old.
