CHATEAU
PATACHE D’AUX

Grand Vin du Nord Médoc

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CHATEAU
PATACHE D’AUX

Grand Vin du Nord Médoc

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Château Patache d’Aux is located in the town of Bégadan, in northern Médoc.

The 63-hectare vineyard extends over both Bégadan and Saint-Christoly du Médoc. It is one of Bordeaux’s northernmost vineyards. Located at just 10 kilometres from the Gironde estuary and 30 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean, the vineyard enjoys an oceanic climate.

The Château Patache d’Aux plots are located 10 kilometres away on two distinct geological formations which confer very different agro-wine characteristics. The vineyard is located in Bégadan, on the “Bégadan limestone” plateau. The second site on Saint-Christoly hill is set on terraces of alluvial gravel known as ‘Girondes’. Most of the vineyard is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Patache d’Aux blend is completed with a small proportion of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Château Patache d’Aux is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, vinified in temperature-controlled raw concrete vats, then aged in French oak barrels. This wine is dense, structured and dominated by the loamy character of the terroir, with an aromatic nose of fresh fruit and sustained empyreumatic notes lent by a high level of Cabernet Sauvignon. The palate is marked by lively attack, revealing fine freshness. The mid-palate is supported by fine, structuring woody notes and supple tannins. The finish is long, with silky-smooth tannins, although still a little firm when very young.

History

1660
Jean-Jacques d’Aux, Lord of Begadan, became owner of the land in 1660 and participated in draining the marshes.
1720

First harvest of the vineyards planted in 1710 by Simon-Pierre d’Aux, from the second generation of the Lords of Aux.

1779

The first vat cellar was built.

1835

Knight Henri-Raymond d’Aux, sold the “Patache” estate (30ha) to Pierre Lussac. Georges Badimon, his son-in-lax, took over the running of the estate in 1855. The Delons inherited the estate by marriage in 1860.

1880

The production site was further developed and Numa Delon (fathier), a banker in Lesparre, had his initials engraved on one of the estate’s cellars. The estate was named Cru Patache and produced 100 barrels of wine.

1932

Cru Patache d’Aux (name used since 1918) became a Cru Bourgeois. Roger and Paul Delon (nephews of Numa Delon Jr.) ran the estate from 1924 onwards.

1964

Patache d’Aux estate was sold to Claude Lapalu. The 1964 vintage bore the first horse and carriage label.

2016

Antoine Moueix Propriétés purchased the estate at the end of 2016, ready to write a new page in Château Patache d’Aux’s story book.

Origin of name and label

Patache refers to both 18th century maritime customs vessels patrolling the Gironde estuary and also the rather makeshift stagecoaches used to transport noblemen from one place to another. It can be assumed that the three horses drawing the carriage symbolise the three families who built the history of the estate: the Lords of Aux and the Lussac and Lapalu families.

Vineyard and cellar

Let us begin by finding out more about the terroir…

The Château Patache d’Aux vines are located in two towns, 10 kilometres apart. The two sites are located on two very distinct geological formations, with very different agro-wine characteristics.

The 42-hectare Bégadan vineyard is located on the Bégadan limestone plateau. The plateau has carbonated soil, and surface clay thickness which varies according to the condition and depth of the rock layer (between 25 and 60 centimetres deep).

The second part of the vineyard, located on the hilltops of Saint Christoly du Médoc, extends over gentle, east-facing slopes, directly onto terraces of alluvial gravel known as “Girondes”.

Discover Château Patache d’Aux’s terroir in video

Discover Château Patache d’Aux’s terroir

… Enhancement through choice of plant material

The oldest vines on Patache d’Aux vineyards are 88 years of age. From the 1930s to 1980s, Cabernet Sauvignon was the main choice grape variety here, before Merlot gradually moved in. Today, Merlot represents close to half of the vines.

Patache d’Aux has always favoured high density planting (9,090 vines/hectare) enabling lower grape loads per vine, and thus ensuring sounder ripening conditions and better concentration of phenolic compounds.

Vines are pruned in double Guyot (without leaving a spur) and trellised: the high-density vines are pruned, on average, to 6 buds per vine.

In 2019, grape varieties are 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Managing our production under environmental certification

Since 2012, Château Patache d’Aux has followed a Business Management System (SME) implemented by the Bordeaux Wine Inter-professional Council and has been awarded two certifications: High Environmental Value Level 3 (HVE3) and, since vintage 2017, ISO 14001. As required by certification standards, Château Patache d’Aux has used no CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic) products since the 2015 vintage, and use of biocontrol products is now actively promoted by our teams. Sexual confusion procedures for efficient control of grape worms are used throughout the estate. Our plant protection process targets “Zero pesticide residue” in wine produced: pesticide residue in wine has been analysed since the 2016 vintage. Our aim is to produce wine that is as “clean” as possible, in respect of both the ecosystem and consumers. We are convinced that the mechanical working of soil is an essential lever to improving the quality of our wines. This is why mechanically worked soil surfaces are increased each year: mechanically worked soil is maintained by furrowing/ploughing, with use of inter-vine blade type tools during the growing season. Our goal is to further reduce plant protection inputs while promoting enhanced biological soil activity. Deep rooted vines are less impacted by extreme weather episodes. Better depth and complexity of wine is achieved: the presence of the rather highly positioned limestone rock base is an undeniable quality asset that can be beneficial if roots actually reach this base.
portrait-giacomo-patached-aux

Giacomo Piubello

Technical director of the Chateau Patache d’Aux

Technical operations for production of the Cru

Vineyards are harvested according to level of maturity and grape profile. Precision plot selection, within the limits of machine-picking, is accomplished by combining plots with similar profiles for tailored vinification processes. Plot and intra-plot selection is based on vigour, grape load and soil type. Extraction is controlled throughout the alcoholic fermentation stage by pumping over, cap punching and racking: with specific extraction protocols, according to maturity level and grape profile. Vatting periods vary between 15 and 30 days, depending on the wine profile. Wine batches are kept in French oak barrels (1/3 new barrels, 1/3 one-wine barrels and 1/3 two-wine barrels). Maturing periods vary between 10 and 14 months, depending on the structure of the wine. The cooperage methods selected for maturing Château Patache d’Aux wines have evolved with time. Barrel toasting levels are lower today than in the past. The estate’s aim is to move towards a barrel profile providing wine structure without toasted or grilled aromas, for enhanced terroir definition.

Estate’s Technical Information

APPELLATION : AOC Médoc
DISTINCTION : Cru Bourgeois
LOCATION : Bégadan in the north of the Médoc. Proximity to the ocean and the Gironde river. 20 metres above sea level.
CLIMATE : tempéerate and oceanic
GRAPES VARIETIES : Merlot (44%), Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot (2%)
SURFACE AREA : 63 hectares for Château Patache d’Aux
TERROIR : Clay-limestone soils on the deep limestone rock base, heavy clay and sandy-loamy gravel
PLANTING DENSITY : 9090 vines / hectare
AVERAGE AGE OF VINES : 39 years
AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES : Mechanical soil tillage over half the surface area, with inter-row grass coverage with cereal crops or Controlled Natural Grassing. Weeding along the rows over half the surface area, with maintenance of inter-row grassing by mowing. Manual bud removal and mechanical leaf removal.
HARVESTING : mechanical with an on-board optical sorting machine, manual for young plants.
VINIFICATION : in uncoated, croncrete tanks
MATURING : between 60 and 100%  of the wine aged in barrels with 1/3 new barrels, 1/3 one-wine barrels and 1/3 two-wine barrels; between 0 and 40% of total volume is aged in uncoated croncrete tanks.
CONSULTANT OENOLOGIST : Stéphane Derenoncourt
CERTIFICATIONS : ISO 14001 and HVE3 from 2017, committed to an Environmental Management System since 2012.

Chateau Patache d’Aux

Today, the Château’s wines have returned to their former glory. The owner, Advini, has designed and funded a fully-fledged revival project for the Château and its wine. Sporting strong, Médoc character, Patache d’Aux continues its quest for excellence under the wise guidance and precision expertise of Stéphane Derenoncourt’s teams. Commentary on the producer’s successes in the B&D 2020 guide. The vines grow on fragmented clay-limestone soil, where their deep roots can feed freely on nutrients and water, even at the height of summer. The wine results from rigorous plot selection, then vinified in uncoated-concrete and stainless-steel vats (all thermo-regulated). To soften tannins and release full aromatic potential, the wine is matured for 12 months in French oak barrels. Colour is deep with purple hues. The nose reveals fruity notes along with frank, complex woodiness. The palate echoes this with supple, blended tannins offering aromatic complexity. The wine’s long, harmonious finish is most appreciable.
  • AOC : Médoc
  • Distinction : Cru Bourgeois
  • Grape varieties : 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
  • Serving temperature : 16 to 18°C
  • Cellar potentiel : between 10 and 15 years
VINTAGES
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Le Relais de Patache d’Aux

The “younger brother” of Château Patache d’Aux: proudly bearing the colours of Bégadan steeple, where the emblematic north Médoc estate is located. From 58 hectares of plot selection – the youngest vines – the wine is characterised by its fruitiness and balance. Grapes are vinified in raw concrete and thermo-regulated stainless-steel vats, followed by 6 to 9 months maturing in stainless steel vats, with a small proportion in two-wine barrels. The wine is aromatic and harmonious, with black fruit and light oak notes, smooth tannins and fine length on the palate.
  • AOC : Médoc
  • Grape varieties : Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
  • Serving temperature : 16 to 18°C
  • Cellar potential : 5 years
VINTAGES

2014
2015
2016
2017

Les Chevaux de Patache d’Aux

A Château Patache d’Aux second wine. This wine has a fruitier profile than others as it comes from only the youngest vines. Grapes are vinified in raw concrete and thermo-regulated stainless-steel vats, followed by 6 to 9 months maturing in stainless steel vats with a small proportion in two-wine barrels. An aromatic, harmonious wine, with notes of black fruit. Well-rounded and seductive on the palate..

  • AOC : Médoc
  • Grape varieties : Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
  • Serving temperature : 16 to 18°C
  • Cellar potential : 5 years
VINTAGES

2014
2015
2016
2017

Chateau Patache d’Aux’s Video

Château Patache d’Aux

Château Patache d’Aux 
1 rue du 19 mars 1962
33340 Bégadan