Château Badette
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Château Badette, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, covers 9 hectares in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. Owned by the Vandenbogaerde family, it is HVE 4 certified and cultivates Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot on clay-limestone and clay-sandy terroirs.
Identity
Château Badette is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, in the Gironde department. It is owned by the Vandenbogaerde family, with Arnaud Vandenbogaerde serving as the current owner.
The estate's technical team includes Mathieu Richard as technical director, Arthur Debeugny as cellar master, and Jean-Philippe Fort as consultant oenologist. Château Badette has been ranked Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion since 2022.
History and philosophy
The history of Château Badette dates back to 1770. The estate was mentioned in 1898 by Edouard Féret, who noted an average production of 50 tonneaux and a consistent standing among the finest second crus of Saint-Émilion.
In 2012, Marc Vandenbogaerde acquired Château Badette. He managed the estate until his passing in 2020. Since then, his son, Arnaud Vandenbogaerde, has taken over the helm of Château Badette, continuing the family commitment to viticulture. The estate holds level 4 Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification.
Appellations
Château Badette produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.
Practical information
Château Badette is located at 1331 route de Saint-Emilion, 33330 Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes.
To contact the estate, the telephone numbers are +33 (0)5 57 24 59 98 and +33 6 08 30 86 13. The email address is contact@chateau-badette.com or chateaubadette@orange.fr.
The estate offers direct wine sales on site as well as tastings at the property.
Learn more
Official estate websiteFrequently asked questions
- What is the primary appellation of Château Badette and its current classification?
- Château Badette is a winegrowing estate producing wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. It was classified as a Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion in 2022. This ranking highlights the recognition of the quality and consistency of its production within the hierarchy of Bordeaux wines.
- Who is the current owner of Château Badette and what is the size of the vineyard?
- Château Badette is owned by Arnaud Vandenbogaerde, who took over the running of the family estate following his father's passing in 2020. The vineyard spans 9 hectares, located in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes on the northern edge of the Saint-Émilion limestone plateau.
- What certifications does Château Badette hold and which grape varieties are grown?
- Château Badette is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) Level 4, reflecting its commitment to environmentally sound practices. The main grape varieties grown on the estate are Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The precise blend can vary slightly depending on the vintage.
- How would you describe the terroir of Château Badette and its soil characteristics?
- The terroir of Château Badette is characterised by a diversity of soils. These include brown soils over a clay-limestone subsoil and brown clay-sandy soils with a molasse de Fronsac subsoil. A specific 1.5-hectare plot features sandy, stony alluvial soils. These distinct soil compositions contribute to the complexity of the wines produced.
The vineyard (terroir)
The Château Badette vineyard spans a total surface area of 9 hectares. The estate's soils exhibit notable diversity, including brown soils over a clay-limestone subsoil and brown clay-sandy soils with a subsoil of molasse de Fronsac. A 1.5-hectare plot, located near Figeac, is characterised by poor, sandy and stony alluvial soils. Viticultural soil expert Xavier Choné contributed to the study of these terroirs. The vineyard is situated on the northern heights of the Saint-Émilion limestone plateau.
The grape varieties grown are primarily Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The varietal blend may vary depending on the vintage. For instance, in 2014, it comprised 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, whereas in 2016, it was composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.
Flagship cuvées
Château Badette offers several still red wine cuvées.
Château Badette
The Château Badette cuvée is the estate's principal wine. It is characterised by ageing in vats and barrels, with 80% of the wine aged in new oak. This wine offers an ageing potential extending to at least 20 years.
La Fleur de Badette
This cuvée is crafted to showcase the wine's fruit and is suited for earlier drinking. Its cellaring potential is around 10 years.
Grand Monsieur de Badette
Another cuvée crafted by the estate, rounding out the portfolio of wines on offer.
Vinification and ageing
The wines of Château Badette are aged in vats and oak barrels. For the Château Badette cuvée, 80% of the blend is aged in new oak barrels. The duration of ageing can vary; for instance, the 2013 vintage spent eighteen months in barrique.
- Appellation
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
- Commune
- Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Classification
- Grand Cru Classé (2022)
- Owner
- Arnaud Vandenbogaerde
- Technical direction
- Mathieu Richard
- Surface area
- 9 ha
- Second wine
- La Fleur de Badette
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Practical information
- Address
- 1331 route de Saint-Emilion, 33330 Saint Christophe des Bardes
- Phone
- +33 (0)5 57 24 59 98
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Oui