SLIDE 1
THE ORIGIN In 2005, a group of good friends with a passionate love - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
THE ORIGIN In 2005, a group of good friends with a passionate love - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
THE ORIGIN In 2005, a group of good friends with a passionate love of wine joined Didier Miqueu and Stephan von Neipperg in pursuit of a goal: to acquire great, forgotten terroirs throughout the Bordeaux region and provide them with the
SLIDE 2
SLIDE 3
www.chateausoleil.fr Château Soleil - BP 34 - 33 330 Saint Emilion
SLIDE 4
THE AMBITION
The objective at these two domains is to establish their reputations at the level of the region’s fj nest growths. If nothing else, their exceptional locations on Saint-Emilion’s fj nest terroirs justifj es this ambition. The properties were chosen with care, with precise criteria tied to their terroirs: the parcels are situated on plateaux composed of clay with “starfj sh limestone” . A thin layer of gravel and clay covers a deep limestone base so rainwater is absorbed by the bedrock and then released during dry periods to nourish the vines by capillary action. This steady, optimal dosage of water helps vines produce fully mature grapes: around Saint-Emilion almost two-thirds
- f the Premier Crus Classés, such as Ausone, Canon, Clos
Fourtet, Pavie and Troplong-Mondot, benefj t from this same geology.
www.chateausoleil.fr Château Soleil - BP 34 - 33 330 Saint Emilion
SLIDE 5
THE AMBITION
The aim under Stephan von Neipperg’s direction is to produce wines of excellent quality which refm ect their terroir’s character:
- Vineyards have been completely renewed,
- A modern vat house has been built,
- Cellars have been totally renovated,
- Methods for vine growing, vinifj
cation, aging and assemblage are worthy of a classed growth—it is the same philosophy, the same care, the same approach and th?e same techniques employed at Canon La Gafg elière The ambition for Château Soleil and Rival is to create strong brands known for their quality, their terroir and their technical expertise.
www.chateausoleil.fr Château Soleil - BP 34 - 33 330 Saint Emilion
SLIDE 6
AN AGRICULTURAL PHILOSOPHY RESPECTING NATURE
Viticulture at both domains is based on a respect for the terroir and the vines :
- The vineyards have been completely renewed through new planting, and replanting of vines with quality rootstock
adapted to the terroir (Riparia Gloire, Fercal);
- The use of herbicides and chemical products is forbidden;
- Natural vegetation between vine rows is encouraged and the soil is worked mechanically;
- Yields are closely controlled: each vine produces no more than ten bunches so grapes reach optimal maturity;
- Harvesting is by hand using small-volume crates, with careful selection at three intervals: at picking, before destemming,
and berry by berry on sorting tables.
www.chateausoleil.fr Château Soleil - BP 34 - 33 330 Saint Emilion
SLIDE 7
THE VINIFICATION
At Château Soleil Stephan von Neipperg employs a dynamic team of professionals to produce wine with great care and fj nesse at both domains. Cellar work is a marriage of tradition and modernity :
- Gentle vinifj
cations: neither pumping nor crushing is used in bringing grapes to the vats; fermentation starts naturally using native yeasts; vinifj cation and extraction is based on repeated tastings
- Parcel selection calls for small-volume, concrete, temperature-controlled vats, with pneumatic punching down of the cap
in each one...
- Malolactic fermentation is made in new French-oak barrels, followed by 18 to 24 months of aging on fj
ne lees... The result is a full expression of terroir while respecting the grapes’ individual quality: winemaking technique at the service of tradition to bring precision, control and consistency to each vintage. Use of small-sized cubic vats achieves a perfect balance between the wine’s volume and the grapes’ surface area for an optimal exchange among skins, seeds and juice. Bare concrete is preferred over stainless steel mainly for its thermal inertia, an important factor in controlling temperatures during alcoholic fermentation. The vats have wide openings on top to enable punching down of the skins and seeds to delicately suspend them in the juice for better extraction of color and tannins; this Burgundian technique is more gentle and precise than pumping over the juice as is usually done in Bordeaux.
www.chateausoleil.fr Château Soleil - BP 34 - 33 330 Saint Emilion
SLIDE 8
LET THE TERROIR EXPRESS ITSELF
Château Soleil is produced like a great classed growth: carefully controlled yields, parcels individually picked and vinifj ed with the greatest care, and only after aging are the best batches are selected for the main wine ; This main wine is complemented by a second called Promesse, to assure that each vintage achieves the highest level of excellence.
www.chateausoleil.fr Château Soleil - BP 34 - 33 330 Saint Emilion
SLIDE 9
THE ATTRIBUTES OF CHÂTEAU SOLEIL
VALEURS DE MARQUE ATTRIBUTS Quality Terroirs - Plantings - Controlled yields Standards and methods of vinifj cation worthy of the fj nest classed growths Authenticity / Commitment Know-how—Tradition Respect for the vine and terroir Dedication to quality winemaking for the best expression of terroir Ambition The quality of a classed growth Stephan von Neipperg’s experience and knowledge of terroir Top-quality equipment and talented personnel at every stage of production The confj dence and consistency capable of achieving excellence Uniqueness/Rarity A limited production Distribution through carefully chosen partners Distinctiveness A luxury image A refj ned style
www.chateausoleil.fr Château Soleil - BP 34 - 33 330 Saint Emilion
SLIDE 10
CHÂTEAU SOLEIL
www.chateausoleil.fr
The renaissance of a great wine: the tradition and history of a generations-old vineyard given new life in the quest for perfect quality. A great wine which possesses all the features expected of the fj nest, modern Saint-Emilions: generosity and character, elegance and power. A charming wine that is enjoyable in its youth, ready to accompany a meal with ease. An emotional experience to be discovered and shared: an original wine whose appellation character is refj ned by the constant aim of perfectly expressing its terroir.
Château Soleil - BP 34 - 33 330 Saint Emilion
SLIDE 11
Château Soleil 2008 Concours de BORDEAUX - 2011 OR / GOLD Coup de cœur dégustation Wuhan Sélection Mondiale des Vins CANADA - 2011 OR/ GOLD Concours des Meilleurs Vins Français aux USA - MIAMI 2011 ARGENT / SILVER AWC VIENNA Int’l Wine Challenge - 2010 ARGENT / SILVER Château Soleil 2009 AWC VIENNA Int’l Wine Challenge - 2011 OR/ GOLD Concours des Meilleurs Vins Français aux USA - MIAMI 2011 BRONZE Concours des Vins de Lyon 2012 OR / GOLD
CHÂTEAU SOLEIL : MEDALS
SLIDE 12
CHÂTEAU SOLEIL : PRESS
Château Soleil 2005 « This lower pedigree wine represents undeniable quality/value rapport … so deep in quality among the better run, less heralded estates, that these wines should appeal to readers looking for terrifj c values from Bordeaux.» (89-91) Robert Parker 2007 Château Soleil 2006 « Shows good ripe fruit, with chocolate and berry charcacter. Medium- to full-bodied, with fj ne tannins and a long fj
- nish. Well done. »
WINE SPECTATOR - (85-88) James Suckling 2008 Château Soleil 2007 « Aromatic and very pretty on the nose, with plum and cherry. Medium-bodied, with balance of fj ne tannins and a fresh fj
- nish. »