Château la Serre
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Château La Serre is a Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion, managed by the d'Arfeuille family. The 7-hectare vineyard, planted with Merlot and Cabernet Franc on limestone soils, produces red wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation, following HVE practices.
Identity
Château La Serre is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in the Gironde department. Owned by the d'Arfeuille family, it is managed by Arnaud d'Arfeuille. Luc D'Arfeuille is also listed as managing the estate. The estate relies on oenologist Thomas Duclos (Oenoteam) for consulting, with Noel Boudot serving as cellar master.
History and philosophy
The Château La Serre vineyard has been cultivated since the 15th century by monks. The current residence was built at the end of the 17th century by Romain de Labayme, Sieur de La Serre, who was a former owner. Luc d’Arfeuille undertook extensive renovations in the late 1970s. The estate is classified as a Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion. It does not practise biodynamics but is HVE-certified.
The appellations
The plots of Château La Serre are located in the Saint-Émilion sub-region and produce wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.
Practical information
Château La Serre is located in 33330 Saint-Émilion. Visits are by appointment by contacting the estate at +33 5 57 24 71 38 or by email at contact@chateaulaserre.com or chateaulaserre@orange.fr. The estate does not offer direct cellar-door sales or mail order. There are no accommodation or dining facilities on site.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Château La Serre located and who manages it?
- Château La Serre is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in the Gironde department. It is owned by the d'Arfeuille family and managed by Arnaud d'Arfeuille. Luc d'Arfeuille is also mentioned as managing the estate. Consultant oenologist Thomas Duclos (Oenoteam) provides guidance, and Noel Boudot is the cellar master.
- What is the history of Château La Serre and its current classification?
- The Château La Serre vineyard has been cultivated since the 15th century. The current residence was built at the end of the 17th century. The estate is classified as a Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion and underwent extensive renovations in the late 1970s under the leadership of Luc d'Arfeuille. The estate is HVE-certified, but does not practise biodynamics.
- What are the characteristics of the Château La Serre vineyard?
- The Château La Serre vineyard covers 7 hectares at the top of the limestone plateau, near the medieval town of Saint-Émilion. The soils are limestone, overlying ancient quarries. The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc (20%), with an aim to increase the proportion of Cabernet Franc to 25%. The vines have an average age of 30 years and a planting density of 6,000 vines/ha. Harvesting is manual and the grapes undergo triple sorting before vinification.
- How are vinification and ageing carried out at Château La Serre?
- Vinification at Château La Serre includes manual punch-downs. The cellar is equipped with concrete vats, as well as cement and stainless steel vats. Pressing is carried out using a small-volume vertical press. Maceration lasts approximately three weeks. Ageing takes place in oak barrels (50% new oak) for 13 to 15 months, extending up to 18 months. The estate primarily produces Château La Serre Grand Cru Classé and the Saint-Émilion Les Menuts de la Serre cuvée.
The vineyard (terroir)
The vineyard spans an area of 7 hectares, located at the top of the limestone plateau, close to the medieval town of Saint-Émilion. The soils are limestone, overlying ancient quarries. The grape varieties consist predominantly of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc (20%). The estate aims to increase the proportion of Cabernet Franc to 25%. The average age of the vines is 30 years, with replanting carried out in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. The planting density is 6,000 vines/ha. Viticulture is traditional. Harvesting is carried out by hand by a team of 25 pickers. A triple sorting of the grapes is performed: first in the vineyard, second on a vibrating sorting table in the cellar, and a third prior to vatting.
Flagship cuvées
The estate primarily produces Château La Serre Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Emilion, a red wine crafted from a blend dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The estate also markets the Saint-Émilion Les Menuts de la Serre cuvée. Average annual production is around 30,000 to 36,000 bottles. The estate generally does not produce a second wine.
Vinification and ageing
Vinification includes manual punch-downs. The cellar is equipped with concrete vats, installed in 2018, as well as cement and stainless steel vats. Pressing is carried out using a small-volume vertical press. Maceration lasts approximately three weeks. Ageing takes place in oak barrels, with 50% new oak, for a period of 13 to 15 months, extending up to 18 months.
- Appellation
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
- Commune
- Saint-Émilion
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Classification
- Grand Cru Classé (2022)
- Owner
- Famille d'Arfeuille
- Technical direction
- Thomas Duclos
- Surface area
- 7 ha
- Second wine
- Ne produit généralement pas de second vin
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 20%
Estate news
25 October 2024
Coup de Coeur 2024 - Arnaud du Château La Serre
Arnaud d’Arfeuille, directeur du Château La Serre, un vignoble familial de 7 hectares situé à 200 mètres du cœur historique de Saint-Émilion, a été mis à l'honneur comme « Coup de Cœur 2024 » dans le cadre de la Coupe des Crus de Saint-Émilion. Cette compétition annuelle sélectionne 24 lauréats dont les propriétés se distinguent par la qualité de leurs vins et leur engagement environnemental. Le Château La Serre, classé Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, est reconnu pour son terroir exceptionnel, résolument « vertical », allant des carrières calcaires jusqu'au sommet de la propriété. Le domaine est certifié HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) depuis le millésime 2020 et a adopté des méthodes de travail plus artisanales et naturelles, excluant l'utilisation d'insecticides et de désherbants. Des semis de couverts végétaux sont également réalisés un rang sur deux pour régénérer le sol. Arnaud d’Arfeuille décrit les vins du Château La Serre comme dotés d'une belle structure, élégance et fraîcheur, caractéristiques attribuées au plateau calcaire permettant aux racines des vignes de puiser facilement dans ce sol. Ces vins offrent un potentiel de garde pouvant atteindre 30 à 40 ans tout en conservant leur fraîcheur et leur acidité, et sont idéaux à déguster après 10 à 15 ans de vieillissement, notamment avec une entrecôte de race limousine. Participer à la Coupe des Crus est perçu comme une opportunité enrichissante de confrontation entre châteaux et la sélection comme « Coup de Cœur » représente une grande joie et une reconnaissance du travail de la famille d’Arfeuille depuis 1956.
Read the source — vins-saint-emilion.comPractical information
- Address
- 33330 Saint-Émilion, 33330
- Phone
- +33 5 57 24 71 38
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Sur rendez-vous