首页
Zhao Wei, the new owner of Chateau Monlot, is not only determined to make a great wine but to make one of the finest in Saint Emilion. Internationally acclaimed actress Zhao Wei is one of China’s biggest stars and she is also a wine enthusiast who has serious ambitions for her new acquisition. Having spotted the potential of the sleeping Chateau Monlot she finalised the purchase last December and has begun work in earnest to bring its wines to world’s stage.
Her first conquest was coaxing Jean-Claude Berrouet, ex-technical director at Chateau Petrus out of retirement after a chance meeting. Berrouet is something of a legend in the wine world, having overseen 44 vintages of Petrus and helped to create the reputation that Petrus enjoys today. He is enthusiastic about Chateau Monlot’s prospects and keen to help Zhao Wei realise Monlot’s future promise. Berrouet’s philosophy is for the wines to express their terroir, always favouring elegance over extraction, which is just what Zhao Wei was looking for.
Zhao Wei’s other coup was to also enlist the expertise of the agronomist Claude Bourguignon, known for his work on the microbiology of soils across the globe. Founder of the Laboratory of Microbiological Analysis of Soils, Bourguignon’s client list spans some of the world’s greatest vineyards including the prized Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy.
Furthermore Zhao Wei’s commitment to creating a great wine was recently recognised by the Jurade of Saint Emilion when she was admitted to this ancient brotherhood. The Jurade dates back to 1199 A.D., when the aldermen of Saint Emilion were given governing rights, in exchange for giving England priority to the wines of Saint Emilion. Nowadays, the Jurade’s main tasks include the promotion of Saint Emilion wines, and the upholding of quality standards to ensure the authenticity of the wines.
Chateau Monlot lies about a 1.5 miles from the historic centre of Saint Emilion, in the village of Saint Hippolyte. This small 17 acre estate once belonged to King Louis XIII (1610 – 1643) and was part of the lands of the Noble House of Capet. The Capetian dynasty is the largest and oldest European Royal House, ruling in France from 987 – 1328. Two Capetian monarchs still rule today in Spain and Luxembourg.
After the French Revolution the estate was acquired by the Taillade family, owners of Chateau Lassègue, giving them control over all the vineyards on the hills of Saint Hippolyte. During the 19th century the estate was inherited by Jeanne Delphine Ichon who renamed the property “Monlot Capet”. In French, “mon lot” means “my share”, which is in reference to the property being her inheritance.
The vineyards at Chateau Monlot lie on sandy and clay-limestone soils and the grapes are 20% Cabernet Franc and 80% Merlot. Zhao Wei produces two award winning wines: Chateau Monlot Cuvée Prestige and L’Excellence du Chateau Monlot. Traditional French vinification techniques and modern technology are used in partnership so that Monlot’s wines are the result of the best aspects from both old and new methods. The wine’s artisanal origins are respected – as is the quality of the terroir – and the vineyards are worked over by hand rather than using pesticides.
Zhao Wei is ushering in a new era for Chateau Monlot and her dedication to excellence throws a new light on to the marriage of Chinese investment and Bordeaux wine. It is a good example of how East and West can unite to create something rather special that both worlds can enjoy.
http://bordeaux-undiscovered.co.uk/blog/2012/09/a-new-era-for-chateau-monlot-%E2%80%93-how-chinese-dedication-to-excellence-and-bordeaux-wine-can-create-something-special/
