What type of soil and exposure does the Château Le Rey vineyard have?

Château Le Rey's 15-hectare contiguous vineyard is established on a clay-limestone terroir. This soil is distinguished by the presence of asteriated limestone (calcaire à astéries), often shallow and near the surface, on the Sainte-Colombe plateau. It benefits from full southern exposure and a gradient of over 100 metres, contributing to the distinctive character of its terroir.

What are the main cuvées produced by Château Le Rey and how are they aged?

Château Le Rey produces two main cuvées rooted in the expression of terroir: ‘Les Argileuses’ and ‘Les Rocheuses’. The cuvée ‘Les Argileuses’, grown on green and blue clay soils, is aged for 6 months in stainless steel vats without oak contact. The cuvée ‘Les Rocheuses’, sourced from 100% limestone plots, undergoes 12 months of barrel ageing with 30% to 40% new oak.

How are the harvest and vinification conducted at Château Le Rey?

The harvest at Château Le Rey is entirely manual, with rigorous grape sorting carried out both on the vine and in the cellar. A plot-by-plot picking schedule is tailored to ensure optimal berry ripeness. Vinification takes place in small-volume stainless steel vats designed to respect parcel identity. Fermentations are conducted without added sulphur, which is introduced in minimal doses only at the end of the ageing process.

Château Le Rey - Winegrowing Estate in Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

Identity

Château Le Rey is a winegrowing estate located in Sainte-Colombe. It is owned by Peter Kwok, Philippe Lambrecht, and Jean-Christophe Meyrou.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Le Rey is defined by generations of family stewardship dating back to the reign of Louis XIII with the Roque family. More recently, Philippe Le Roy owned the property. In 2016, the estate was acquired by Peter Kwok, Philippe Lambrecht, and Jean-Christophe Meyrou. Philippe Lambrecht also owns Wijnhandel de Brabandere and Bodega Mas Alta, while Jean-Christophe Meyrou is the managing director of Vignobles K.

Appellations

Château Le Rey produces wines under the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. It is situated in the commune of Sainte-Colombe.

Practical information

Château Le Rey is located on Route de Saint-Nazaire, 66140 CANET-EN-ROUSSILLON. For inquiries, the estate can be contacted on 04 68 73 86 27 or by email at contact@chateauderey.com. The estate offers neither accommodation nor direct sales at the property. Wine tourism information is available on the dedicated page.

Find out more

Official estate website

Frequently asked questions

Who are the current owners of Château Le Rey and what are their other wine endeavours?: Château Le Rey is currently owned by a partnership comprising Peter Kwok, Philippe Lambrecht, and Jean-Christophe Meyrou. Philippe Lambrecht also owns Wijnhandel de Brabandere and Bodega Mas Alta, while Jean-Christophe Meyrou serves as the managing director of Vignobles K. This acquisition took place in 2016, succeeding the family stewardship initiated by the Roque family.
What type of soil and exposure does the Château Le Rey vineyard have?: Château Le Rey's 15-hectare contiguous vineyard is established on a clay-limestone terroir. This soil is distinguished by the presence of asteriated limestone (calcaire à astéries), often shallow and near the surface, on the Sainte-Colombe plateau. It benefits from full southern exposure and a gradient of over 100 metres, contributing to the distinctive character of its terroir.
What are the main cuvées produced by Château Le Rey and how are they aged?: Château Le Rey produces two main cuvées rooted in the expression of terroir: ‘Les Argileuses’ and ‘Les Rocheuses’. The cuvée ‘Les Argileuses’, grown on green and blue clay soils, is aged for 6 months in stainless steel vats without oak contact. The cuvée ‘Les Rocheuses’, sourced from 100% limestone plots, undergoes 12 months of barrel ageing with 30% to 40% new oak.
How are the harvest and vinification conducted at Château Le Rey?: The harvest at Château Le Rey is entirely manual, with rigorous grape sorting carried out both on the vine and in the cellar. A plot-by-plot picking schedule is tailored to ensure optimal berry ripeness. Vinification takes place in small-volume stainless steel vats designed to respect parcel identity. Fermentations are conducted without added sulphur, which is introduced in minimal doses only at the end of the ageing process.

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Le Rey spans 15 contiguous hectares. It is planted on a clay-limestone terroir on the Right Bank of the Dordogne, on the Sainte-Colombe plateau. The soil is predominantly clay-limestone with asteriated limestone (calcaire à astéries), often shallow and close to the surface. The vineyard enjoys full southern exposure and features an elevation gradient of over 100 metres. The commune's terroir is characterised as a limestone plateau east of Saint-Émilion.

Signature cuvées

The estate produces two main cuvées, ‘Les Argileuses’ and ‘Les Rocheuses’, crafted with a terroir-driven approach. The cuvée ‘Les Argileuses’ comes from plots with green and blue clay soils. The cuvée ‘Les Rocheuses’ is sourced from 100% limestone plots.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting is carried out by hand, with meticulous grape sorting both on the vine and in the cellar, alongside a tailored picking schedule for each plot to achieve optimal ripeness. Vinification takes place in small-capacity stainless steel vats designed for parcel-by-parcel precision. Fermentations are conducted without added sulphur, with only minimal doses added at the end of ageing. The cuvée ‘Les Argileuses’ is aged for 6 months in stainless steel vats with no oak influence. The cuvée ‘Les Rocheuses’ undergoes 12 months of ageing in oak barrels, with 30 to 40% new oak depending on the vintage, and the remainder aged in one- and two-year-old barrels. Bottling takes place at the Château.

Appellation: Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
Commune: Sainte-Colombe
Wine region: Les Vins de Côtes
Owner: Cathy et Philippe Sisqueille
Surface area: 15 ha
Grape varieties: Merlot 80%, Cabernet Franc 20%