Château Badette

France

About the producer

About the producer

A sleeping beauty, this Saint-Émilion estate has been shaken awake by Belgian investor Marc-Andrê Vandenbogaerde who has invested in both the vineyards and the winery, expanding its total holdings to 10.5 hectares with the purchase of a new vineyard close to Château Figeac.

In the late 19th century, Château Badette was admired. In 'The Wines of Bordeaux', expert Edouard Féret described the estate as “exceptionally well maintained, and producing an average of 50 tonneaux of a delicate, soft, perfumed wine, perfectly preserved”.

However, changes of ownership led to the demise of the estate despite various efforts throughout the 20th century. When Vandenbogaerde took over the property in 2012, it had been in the unlikely hands of the Saint-Émilion town council for more than a decade.

In the vineyard

In the vineyard

The original vineyards sit in the village of Saint Christophe, 3km east of Saint-Emilion, totalling 9 hectare and sitting on clay and clay-sand. The owner has recently purchased 1.5 hectares on the other side of town, next door to Château Figeac in the north-west of the appellation, which has thin, alluvial soils that are well suited to the two Cabernets.

Since the purchase of Badette in 2012, Vandenbogaerde has restructured several parcels of vines and is considering replanting some Merlot plots with Cabernet Franc. The current composition of the vineyard is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot.

There’s a move toward greener viticulture too: grass cover in the vineyard and an end to herbicide use. Hand picking has been introduced under the new ownership in a bid to improve quality.

In the winery

In the winery

A new cellar and vat room have been created since the purchase in 2012. A sorting table has been introduced to select only the best fruit, smaller tanks allow for more precise vinification and part of the harvest undergoes its fermentation not in tanks but new 500-litre barrels.

The winery has also hired consultant oenologist Jean-Philippe Fort to improve the quality of its wines and in 2015, The Wine Advocate rewarded their efforts with a 92-94 score.

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About the producer

"From an estate purchased in 2012 by Belgian wine merchant Marc Vandenbogaerde... it's an elegant, medium to full-bodied Saint-Émilion that has a beautiful perfume of crème de cassis, graphite, spicy wood, and earth. It's perfectly balanced, has subtle minerality, and a great finish"

Jeb Dunnuck