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
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.