SIX UNIQUE TERROIRS, THE REAL TREASURE IN OUR CHATEAUX

When the Bouey Family first purchased the estate, they renamed it “Château La France Delhomme” in honor of one of their ancestors. The wines produced here owe their distinct character to vineyards planted overwhelmingly with Merlot (90%), and to its sandy and chalky soil. 
 

This may not sound unusual, but it is a rare soil type indeed: the sand in the soil was actually carried in by winds from the West. Aeolian sand, as it is known, is extremely rare in the Gironde. When incorporated into the soil, it reduces its capacity to retain water and allows it to warm up faster in the spring, bringing the vines’ natural cycle forward in relation to their neighbors. It is this sand that ensures that the vines here bud and fruit earlier than on any other Bouey Family estate. These vines produce a wine which is completely unique, bursting with red berries, blackcurrants and plums, and matured to develop spice notes.

The soil at Château Lestruelle consists predominantly of silt carried in by the river.
 

While clearly not the richest soil of the Bouey Family estates, it does allow the family to focus on the fruit.  Indeed, at Château Lestruelle, the winemaker has almost as much sway over the style as the grower. The vines are leafed not once but twice, allowing the fruit to reach peak maturity before harvest. 
 

Once picked, they take the utmost care to extract the best from the grapes - but not going too far, which can lead to a “harder” wine. These wines are then fermented and matured in a variety of barrels to develop complex and subtle aromas, enhancing the fruit without overwhelming it. The result is a sincere, modern and approachable wine, and a firm favorite to this day.