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Vintages follow one another, yet no two are alike. Arnaud Thomassin, co-owner with his sisters Véronique and Virginie of the Château de France wine estate in the Pessac-Léognan appellation (Read our article from 09/06/2022 by clicking “HERE”), alongside his team, extracts the very quintessence of the grape varieties thanks to plots delineated with great precision. A look back at a tasting of the 2022 and 2024 vintages…
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!On November 26, at the restaurant L’Évadé—located at 23 Rue Clauzel in Paris’s 9th arrondissement and helmed by chef Remi Poulain—we tasted the Château Coquillas white 2024 and red 2022, COQ’ORICO By Coquillas red 2022, as well as Château de France white 2024 and red 2022. Two vastly different vintages (see below) that nonetheless yielded wines of outstanding value, ideally suited for festive gatherings, holiday dinners, or, for the age-worthy cuvées, future occasions…
On the “Management” of Different Vintages
Regarding climatic conditions, which are paramount to wine quality, both the vineyard management—conducted to harvest under optimal conditions and attain the ideal match for the desired organoleptic profile—and the cellar work consistently produce balanced wines at Château de France that “make the mouth water and leave you longing for more.” A true mantra for Arnaud Thomassin, who relies on seeking a low pH to craft fresh, taut wines.
Arnaud Thomassin at the table of the restaurant L’Évadé. Photo © Pierre d’Ornano | Aeternus.fr
HVE and Biocontrol
It is worth noting that Château de France directly farms 40 hectares of vines in full ownership. The estate is a member of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux and the Syndicat des Vignerons Indépendants de France. It holds the High Environmental Value (HVE) certification and implements biocontrol, which uses natural, preventative protection methods to manage vineyard pests and pathogens.
2022: An Exceptional Vintage for Reds
The 2022 vintage proved exceptional, even magnificent, for Pessac-Léognan reds. A vintage “less taut than 2020,” points out Arnaud Thomassin, which was also a superb year for the appellation and the Bordeaux region as a whole. As a result of water stress, 2022 produced small berries rich in sugar, yielding grand vin de garde wines concentrated in substance, flavor, and tannins.
Despite less favorable weather conditions for white grape varieties, resulting in lower acidity, the Sauvignons and Sémillons remain fruit-driven and balanced, retaining remarkable freshness.
2024: A Year of Whites, with Reds Not to Be Overlooked
What of the 2024 vintage, which was a more challenging growing year for Bordeaux winegrowers overall, marked by abundant rainfall, particularly during critical stages of the vine cycle? According to a memorandum from the Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences (ISVV): “2024 will not go down in history as an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux wines. Nonetheless, thanks to the viticultural efforts undertaken and the technical advancements now available to growers, the quality of wines crafted this year cannot be compared to the rainy vintages of the past. While it was naturally more straightforward to produce high-level dry and sweet white wines, it would be premature to systematically overlook the red wines […]. Hence, at a time when wine enthusiasts increasingly appreciate fruity, fresh, and readily approachable red wines, it would seem surprising to dismiss the 2024 Bordeaux out of hand simply because they do not conform to the standards of the greatest vintages.”
At Château de France, the 2024 weather conditions favored the creation of lovely, fresh, and suave white wines with a distinct salinity—cuvées destined for cellaring. Regarding the reds… “this wet vintage is reminiscent of 2023. The wines are more supple, meant to be enjoyed sooner, and are also lighter and more approachable,” says Arnaud Thomassin.
Château de France - AOP Pessac-Léognan - 2022 and 2024
Château Coquillas 2024 (White)
An Indulgent Wine
Terroir: very deep gravel, occasionally over a clay-limestone subsoil
Grape varieties: 80% Sauvignon, 20% Sémillon
Planting density: 6,950 vines per hectare
Pruning: double Guyot
Harvest: manual
Vinification
Fermentation temperatures: 20–25°C maximum. The musts were aged for 8 to 9 months in barrels of two to three previous wines. Notably, 5% of the estate’s barrels are made of acacia. Used in white winemaking, this wood respects the fruit while enhancing the wine’s freshness. Bâtonnage (lees stirring) was performed once a week, shifting to fortnightly towards the end.
Tasting Notes
Color: pale gold
Arising from a challenging 2024 vintage, this wine reveals a harmonious nose with aromas of white-fleshed fruit, candied apricot, and honey. An indulgent cuvée with tension and structure on the palate, harmoniously blending richness, freshness, and elegance. The finish is distinctly mineral.
Food & Wine Pairings
To be enjoyed as an aperitif with green olive tapenade, alongside pan-seared sea scallops, or with grilled fish. This white Château Coquillas will also pair seamlessly with an array of matured cheeses, bringing a welcome touch of freshness.
Cellar door price: €17 incl. VAT
Château Coquillas 2022 (Red)
Style and Structure
Terroir: very deep gravel, occasionally over a clay-limestone subsoil
Grape varieties: 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 65% Merlot
Planting density: 6,950 vines per hectare
Pruning: single and double Guyot
Harvest: manual/mechanical
Vinification
Alcoholic fermentation lasted between 7 and 10 days. The musts macerated in 130-hl and 85-hl vats for 3 to 4 weeks under constant temperature control (maximum temperature of 30°C during fermentation). Malolactic fermentation was also conducted in vats. The wine was then aged for 12 months in barrels of two to three previous wines. Finally, it underwent light filtration prior to bottling.
Tasting Notes
Color: garnet
The nose reveals characteristic Merlot aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and morello cherry. On the palate, the wine demonstrates remarkable style and a fine tannic structure, complemented by mineral and minty nuances lent by the Cabernet Sauvignon, along with generous length.
Food & Wine Pairings
Best enjoyed alongside grilled or roasted meats, or paired with a Brie or a dry raw-milk soft goat cheese.
Cellar door price: €11.50 incl. VAT
COQ'ORICO by Coquillas 2022
A Fresh and Approachable Wine
Terroir: gravelly soils of southern Bordeaux
Grape varieties: 45% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon
This quintessential Graves blend combines the roundness and fruit-forward nature of Merlot with the structure and depth of Cabernet Sauvignon, yielding a fresh, festive, and readily approachable wine.
Vinification
Traditional vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats with gentle extraction. Aging is partially carried out in oak barrels (depending on the vintage) for 6 months.
Tasting Notes
Color: radiant garnet-red
This wine has a crisp vitality. It exudes aromas of red fruit (cherry, strawberry, redcurrant) and spice, accented by delicate floral notes.
The palate is supple and succulent. The balance between sweetness and acidity is seamless. The tannins are beautifully integrated, giving way to a fruity finish and a lasting sensation of freshness.
Food & Wine Pairings
This is a convivial wine, ready to be enjoyed immediately or cellar-worthy for the next 3 to 5 years. It will be ideal for an aperitif or a picnic, as well as paired with white meat, roast chicken, a gourmet burger, lamb brochettes, or even steak tartare. Serve at a temperature between 16 and 18°C.
Cellar door price: €12.70 incl. VAT
Château de France 2022 (Red)
A gastronomic wine
Surface area: 36 ha
Soil: deep gravel
Vine age: 35 years
Planting density: 7,000 vines/ha
Yield: 30 hl/ha
Grape varieties: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest dates: from 08/09 to 03/10
Alcohol by volume: 14%
Vinification
In temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. The wine was aged in barrels for 12 months, with 30% new oak.
Tasting Notes
Colour: deep ruby
The nose is intense, revealing aromas of blackcurrant and cherry. On the palate, this wine displays a fine structure with spicy and liquorice notes. The tannins are already mature, seamlessly integrated and refined, while the oak remains discreet. A gastronomic wine with great ageing potential.
While the impatient may enjoy it now, it will certainly benefit from a few years of careful cellaring.
Food & Wine Pairings
Pair with roasted or grilled red meats (prime rib of beef, leg of lamb, etc.), or with a dark chocolate dessert.
Cellar door price: €25.60 incl. VAT (€51.60 for a magnum)
Château de France 2024 (White)
Our personal favourite…
Terroir: very deep gravel, occasionally over a clay-limestone subsoil
Grape varieties: 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sémillon
Planting density: 6,950 vines per hectare
Pruning method: Double Guyot
Harvest: manual
Vinification
Alcoholic fermentation took place in barrels (7 to 10 days) at temperatures maintained between 20 and 25°C maximum. This was followed by 10 months of ageing combining new oak barrels (30%) and one-wine barrels, with bâtonnage (lees stirring) carried out once a week, and every fortnight towards the end of the process.
Tasting Notes
Bright, limpid golden colour
The initial aromas reveal beeswax, spices, and honey, before unfolding into notes of peach and apricot. It is a powerful, well-structured wine with a distinctive presence on the palate, offering roundness and impeccable balance. Peppery nuances also emerge. After a remarkably long finish, the tasting culminates in an intense finale.
Cellaring potential: 10 years and beyond.
Food & Wine Pairings
Best enjoyed with all manner of grilled fish or aged goat's cheeses.
Cellar door price: €27.60 incl. VAT
Food & wine pairings, created by Rémi Poulain, chef of L'Évadé
Practical information
Château de France produces between 140,000 and 180,000 bottles per year. 60% of the wines are sold within the Aquitaine region.
SAS B. Thomassin
98, Avenue de Mont de Marsan
33850 Léognan
France
Tel: +33 (0)5 56 64 75 39
contact@chateau-de-france.com
Opening days and hours:
– Monday to Thursday: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
– Friday: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Tastings and tours are by appointment only.
Where to buy the wines
Château de France cuvées are available through traditional channels (wine merchants, restaurateurs), directly from the cellar door, and via the website.
The estate also offers en primeur sales through a dedicated section of the website –> “En primeur shop”.
Location
