Château Hostens-Picant

The château

In 1986 Yves Hostens-Picant, then working in medicine, and his wife Nadine, a financial adviser, took on the Domaine de Grangeneuve at Les Lèves-et-Thoumeyragues, 24 kilometers from Saint-Émilion, an estate whose origins go back to the 15th century. Their first vintage was the 1990. Stéphane Derenoncourt and his team have advised them since 2004, and their daughters Charlotte and Valentine now work alongside them.

The soils combine clay, flint and limestone. Over the years the Cabernet Sauvignon has given way to Cabernet Franc and the planting has gone from 3,300 to 6,600 vines a hectare; organic trials began on 4 hectares, have reached 10, and are meant to take in the whole estate. The grand vin (the estate’s first wine) is Château Hostens-Picant. Lucullus, first made in 1998, is a selection of parcels from the more calcareous plateau, aged 15 months in barrel, 40% new, and released only in the years that justify it; the range also includes the Cuvée des Demoiselles and the Grangeneuve wines. Half the wine is exported, and most of it goes to restaurants, hotels and wine shops.

At a glance

Appellation

Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux

Commune

Les Lèves-et-Thoumeyragues

Classification

No classification

Owners

Yves and Nadine Hostens-Picant, since 1986

Consultant

Stéphane Derenoncourt, since 2004

Vineyard

6,600 vines a hectare, from 3,300

Soil

Clay, flint and limestone

Farming

Organic trials on 10 hectares; the aim is to convert the whole estate

Cellar

Lucullus: 15 months in barrel, 40% new

Wines

Château Hostens-Picant; Lucullus, since 1998; Cuvée des Demoiselles; Grangeneuve