Château Maison Blanche Montagne-Saint-Émilion 2022

Château Maison Blanche sits at the southwestern edge of Montagne-Saint-Émilion, close to Lalande-de-Pomerol and Pomerol, on land with a long viticultural history. The property was purchased by Louis Rapin in 1938 and substantially rebuilt and replanted before passing to his daughter Françoise and her husband Gérard Despagne. Their son Nicolas Despagne now leads the estate and has been responsible for much of its modern identity, particularly the move toward organic, biodynamic and very low-intervention farming and cellar work. The domaine covers about 40 hectares, with roughly 32 hectares under vine, and the vines average more than 45 years old.

Maison Blanche has used biodynamic preparations since 2001, moved into organic farming in 2006 and converted fully to biodynamics in 2011. The vineyards are planted primarily to merlot and cabernet franc on clay-limestone and clay-sand soils, with pockets of iron-rich crasse de fer. Harvesting is by hand with sorting both in the vineyard and again at the cellar. Fermentation relies on indigenous yeasts and bacteria, without cultured yeasts, enzymes, tannins or other corrective additions, and there is no artificial concentration or heavy technological intervention.

The 2022 Maison Blanche is a merlot-cabernet franc blend, typically around 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc, though the exact balance can vary by vintage. Fruit comes from the estate’s older vines, with fermentation and two to four weeks of cuvaison in tank, followed by malolactic fermentation without inoculation. Élevage lasts roughly 12 to 18 months in one-, two- and three-year-old French oak barrels rather than new wood. The wine is bottled without fining and generally without filtration, preserving both texture and a slightly more natural, unpolished character than one finds in more conventionally made Right Bank Bordeaux.

The 2022 is ripe but not heavy, with black cherry, plum and cassis alongside violet, licorice, earth and subtle savory spice. The palate is supple and concentrated, with fresh acidity and fine, slightly earthy tannins rather than glossy oak sweetness. It feels recognizably Bordeaux in structure, but the biodynamic farming, restrained élevage and low-intervention cellar work give it a particularly energetic, transparent character.