Château Tronquoy Lalande

Château Tronquoy-Lalande, situated in the heart of the appellation, is one of the oldest Saint-Estèphe wines. It takes its name from François Tronquoy, the estate’s first owner, and the place-name La Lande, meaning the heath, on which the Château’s historic vineyard is planted.

The winegrowing estate was formed in the 18th century around the remarkable château built for the Tronquoy family on a design by Victor Louis, the architect of the Grand Théâtre in Bordeaux. An elegant, white-stone country house typical of the region, its two side towers with their pointed roofs peep above the highest trees in the surrounding park. The estate went through several different owners until 1968, when it was bought by Jean Texier and his wife Arlette Castéja-Texier. She would run the estate for 40 years.

In 2006, Martin and Olivier Bouygues discovered this little vineyard, historically reputed for having one of the finest terroirs in Saint-Estèphe. On specialist advice, they decided to buy the property, marking the start of a new era in its history. They then embarked on a large-scale modernisation programme which culminated in 2010 with the construction of a vast barrel hall and a new vat house equipped with a vertical press and 22 temperature-controlled stainless steel vats.

Château Tronquoy-Lalande’s terroir, generally known as one of the finest, stretches seamlessly over 30 hectares (74 acres) of historic outcrops in the heart of the famous Saint-Estèphe appellation.

The Merlot grape flourishes on the soil of the Tronquoy-Lalande terroir, making up 52 % of total plantings. It’s a feature that distinguishes Tronquoy-Lalande from its neighbours, where Cabernet Sauvignon predominates. At Tronquoy, Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 39 %, followed by Petit Verdot (6 %) and Cabernet Franc (3 %). The planting density is 9000 vines per hectare. The vineyard benefits from an ideal exposure, perfectly adapted to optimum grape maturity.

The soil comprises an 8-metre-deep layer of gravel and clay. The gravel ensures good drainage, while the clay retains water at depth which the vines can tap into as necessary. The vineyard is situated 23 metres above sea-level. The outcrops that have formed naturally over the centuries encourage rainwater to run off. The nearby Gironde estuary also acts as a temperature regulator.

The vineyard is farmed meticulously in the traditional way. It is ploughed using the “four ways” method, which involves repeated earthing-up and earthing-down. Ploughing loosens and aerates the soil, making it easier for rainwater to penetrate. It is also a natural way of eliminating weeds and increasing microbial life in the soil.

WINE NOTES AND REVIEWS

Château Tronquoy-Lalande Saint-Estèphe 2017
55 % Merlot, 37 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 % Petit Verdot and 2 % Cabernet Franc.

The weather conditions for the 2017 vintage were quite unusual. The year started with a mild and dry winter, marked by only 2 weeks of cold at the end of January. The temperatures remained mild in the spring, allowing uniform bud burst as from 29 March. At this stage an early vintage seemed likely, but the growth cycle slowed down at the end of April under the influence of cooler temperatures. The Gironde estuary then played its essential role of thermal regulator during the 3 consecutive days of frost, which spared our vineyard. The summer-like conditions in May favoured early, quick and uniform flowering for the 4 grape varieties. Summer was dry and temperate, marked by a heatwave from 19 to 23 June. The first signs of veraison appeared around 17 July. The few rainy spells in September encouraged good development of ripeness for the 4 grape varieties.

We harvested from 12 September to 3 October. Picking within the plots at perfect ripeness allowed us to isolate 15 batches representative of our terroirs, which will make up the wealth of our blends. Each batch underwent taylor made vinification to reveal the best of our wine’s signature.

Beautiful bright red color with beautiful purplish reflections. The elegant and complex nose reveals notes of black fruits and subtle woodiness. The palate is ample with nice acidity and persistent length. Very good potential. To be fully enjoyed from now and in a few years.

Château Tronquoy-Lalande Saint-Estèphe 2015
55 % Merlot, 37 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 % Petit Verdot and 2 % Cabernet Franc.

The winter of 2015 was colder than in previous years, but a mild and rather sunny start to the vine cycle favoured early budbreak. The first flowers appeared on the 26th of May and full bloom occurred on the 2nd of June. On the whole, this process had been generally rapid and even. June and July were dry and the resulting lack of water slowed the vegetation cycle. The veraison happened early and very evenly between the 21st of July and the 10th of August. Showers in August and September alternated with spells of fine weather. The deep gravel at Tronquoy-Lalande lived up to its capacity for good drainage, regulating the water supply to the vines.

Harvesting began with the Merlot on the 16th of September and ended on the 8th of October. Intra-parcel selection ensured that the grapes were picked at exactly the right stage of aromatic and phenolic maturity. In the cellar, the first fermentations in tank produced highly coloured and aromatic musts. Extraction took place gently, in a constant quest for silky tannins. The temperatures were kept deliberately low to enable the fruit to express all its richness and reveal our terroir. First tastings show great maturity in both flavours and tannins.

Good deep red colour with slight purple reflections. Fruity nose with aromas of blackcurrant and black cherry, discreetly oaked with a subtle note of menthol. Clean and full attack on the palate. Good concentration with smooth and well-structured tannins. A long finish, very elegant and upright. This wine can be enjoyed in its youth while offering good potential for ageing.

Château Tronquoy-Lalande Saint-Estèphe 2012 (also 375 mL + 1500 mL)
57 % Merlot, 40 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 % Petit Verdot and 2 % Cabernet Franc.

The winter was dry, especially in the first three months. Very mild weather in January was followed by a particularly cold spell in February. In a rainy spring, cool and damp weather slowed vine growth. Flowering took place slowly over the first three weeks of June, causing a certain degree of unevenness on the vinestocks. However, the growers' efforts in the vineyard enabled us to get the vines into very good shape for the development of the crop. Summer set in at last at the end of July. August was particularly sunny and very dry, with several days of very high temperatures. Mid-veraison was slightly later than the average, taking place around 17 August. Very fine weather continued well into the following month, raising fears that the ripening process would come to a halt. However, the grapes continued to ripen following the arrival of rain at last on 22 September, a slow and steady process monitored with the utmost care until the end of the season.

The harvest began with the Merlots on 24 September. With the grapes maturing unevenly within parcels, each parcel had to be divided up with scrupulous precision at the start of picking. The Cabernet Sauvignons were picked from 13 to 20 October at full maturity and in perfect health despite spells of rain. The grapes were fully ripe and the musts showed great richness, with highly attractive fruit and very intense colour. The maceration period was exceptionally long – 26 to 28 days – since the very thick skins of the Merlots and Cabernets meant that more time was needed in order to extract the quintessence of the vintage.

The result of a great deal of hard work and a certain degree of risk-taking at harvest-time, 2012 ranks among the estate's excellent vintages in recent years.

The aspect is dense, dark red. On the nose, we have some notes of refined and delicate oak, evolving towards red fruit and spice. The palate is soft, with a round attack. Great balance and elegance on the mid-palate. Present fruit and supple tannins give the wine body and density.