# Château Le Conte Marquey (2020)

- **Producer:** SCEA des Vignobles Borderie-Lenier
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Merlot, Cabernet Franc
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €23
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, raspberry, plum, blackcurrant, blackberry, vanilla, toast, smoke, cedar, tobacco

## About this wine

Château Le Conte Marquey is a historic estate in the Saint-Émilion region dating back to the 18th century. Today, the property is managed by Jean-Paul Borderie, a former airline pilot who took over the reins from his mother. Borderie brought a meticulous, detail-oriented approach from his aviation background to the vineyards. The estate's Grand Cru wine is sourced from an extremely small, one-hectare micro-parcel located in the commune of Saint-Hippolyte. The vines here average 45 years of age and grow on highly prized clay-limestone soils underlaid by ancient asteria limestone, which contains fossilized shells dating back 40 million years. This unique geological foundation provides a distinct mineral complexity to the vines, making this limited-production wine a true representation of its historic terroir.

## Interesting facts

- The estate is managed by Jean-Paul Borderie, a former airline pilot who transitioned from aviation to meticulous winemaking.
- The Grand Cru wine is sourced from a micro-sized parcel of just one hectare, yielding an extremely limited 6,000 bottles annually.
- The vines grow on 40-million-year-old asteria limestone soils containing fossilized prehistoric shells.

## Food pairing

This Saint-Émilion Grand Cru demands rich, structurally matching dishes. The wine's medium-plus tannins and high alcohol are beautifully softened by the proteins and fats in red meats like ribeye and lamb. Its vibrant acidity cuts through the richness of duck and venison, while the subtle oak integration and dark fruit profile complement roasted and earthy flavors.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Château Le Conte Marquey combines traditional methods with modern precision. The grapes are harvested mechanically from the estate's single hectare of sustainably farmed vines. Vinification begins with a long, slow fermentation in temperature-controlled concrete and stainless steel vats. Regular pump-overs are performed to ensure optimal color extraction and to develop gentle, well-integrated tannins. Following fermentation, the Grand Cru selection is aged for 12 to 15 months in 100% new French oak barrels. This careful maturation helps to integrate the structural components of the wine. The final production is highly exclusive, yielding only about 6,000 bottles annually, reflecting a truly boutique scale of winemaking.