France, Bordeaux

The 35 hectare estate of Château Bernadotte was built in 1860 and is a Cru Bourgeois estate in the commune of Saint Sauveur, which borders the west side of the Pauillac appellation. It was purchased in 1997 by the second growth Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, subsequently taken over by the Louis Roederer champagne house. Since December 2012, Bernadotte has been owned by the King Power Group of Hong Kong. The estate is densely planted 51 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot to a vine density of 9,000 vines per hectare with an average age of 30 years for the vines. The soils are mainly gravelly, sandy with some clay and drain well. Vinification takes place in 23, large, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wines of Chateau Bernadotte are aged in 30% new, French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, depending on the quality and character of the vintage with an annual average production of 150,000 bottles. All picking here is done by hand and extraction is light, so the wines are enjoyable relatively young making an outstanding wine of power, minerality and beautifully managed tannins, all supporting concentrated fruit.