At Château Cazebonne, the cuvée Les Astéries de Darche embodies a profound and passionate exploration of our terroir. This singular expression draws its unique character from the geological history of our estate, specifically from our northernmost parcel. There, beneath a layer of the gravel soils our vines thrive on, lies a geological treasure: calcaire à astéries (starfish limestone).

Between one and three metres below the surface, this sedimentary bedrock emerges, identical to the limestone that established the renown of the greatest crus of Saint-Émilion. Formed during the Oligocene epoch, some 32 million years ago, this limestone stratum results from the accumulation of millions of fossilised shells of asteriidae—primitive starfish. A soil of incomparable richness, it imparts a distinctive minerality, remarkable tension, and exceptional ageing potential to our wines. The calcaire à astéries acts as a natural water regulator, ensuring perfect drainage while retaining essential moisture even during the driest summers, thus providing the vines with balanced nourishment and optimal grape ripening.

For this cuvée, Les Astéries de Darche, we chose to highlight rare and fascinating grape varieties, including Castets. As Jean-Baptiste Duquesne highlights in his seminal work "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages" (Éditions BBD), this grape variety was long forgotten, falling victim to the vicissitudes of viticultural history. Yet, it lends wines great finesse, a fine tannic structure, and surprising freshness—qualities that are highly sought after today. By replanting this historic variety, alongside others such as Mancin or Pardotte, we do more than just craft wine; we revive an entire chapter of Bordeaux's winemaking heritage, thereby enriching the biodiversity of our vineyards and the aromatic complexity of our wines. It is a profound heritage-driven endeavour aimed at rediscovering the authentic flavours of historic Bordeaux and securing their future.

Les Astéries de Darche is therefore far more than a mere cuvée; it is a vibrant tribute to the land, an open window onto Bordeaux's viticultural past, and a promise for the future. It is the result of a bold pursuit undertaken by Château Cazebonne with conviction and passion: bringing back grape varieties that had vanished from the Bordeaux landscape, fostering a richer viticulture that honours its heritage. This long-term endeavour, a true commitment to preserving our viticultural heritage, is made possible thanks to the unwavering support of the wine lovers and enthusiasts who have embraced our wines and share our vision.

You can find all of our cuvées available for purchase in the Cazebonne online shop.

To deepen your knowledge of the fascinating history of Bordeaux grape varieties, we invite you to obtain the digital edition of the book "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages", published by Éditions BBD and written by Jean-Baptiste Duquesne.

Les Astéries de Darche is an emblematic single-vineyard cuvée from Château Cazebonne, expressing the unique potential of our limestone terroir and our commitment to Bordeaux's forgotten grape varieties.

The 2022 Vintage: Balance of Freshness and Elegance

The 2022 vintage of Les Astéries de Darche, crafted exclusively from Merlot, bears witness to a unique year. The grapes were harvested on 14 and 16 September, achieving optimal ripeness. This vintage stands out for its floral delicacy and suppleness, stepping away from traditionally oak-heavy profiles to offer a pure, ethereal expression of the terroir. La Revue du Vin de France awarded this wine a score of 91/100, highlighting its elegant, savoury character: The 2022 vintage in Bordeaux.

An Exceptional Limestone Terroir

This cuvée takes its name from the unique geological bedrock of Château Cazebonne's northernmost parcel: calcaire à astéries. This subsoil, identical to the one underpinning the renown of Saint-Émilion's greatest crus, sits between one and three metres deep beneath a layer of gravel. Formed around 32 million years ago, it originates from the accumulation of fossilised primitive starfish shells. This composition endows the wines with a distinctive minerality, remarkable tension, and great ageing potential. The calcaire à astéries terroirs act as a natural water regulator, ensuring seamless drainage while retaining crucial moisture even during the driest summers, promoting balanced vine nutrition and optimal grape ripening.

Vinification and Ageing: Natural Approach and Tradition

Vinification of Les Astéries de Darche is carried out using indigenous yeasts, thus respecting the natural expression of fruit and terroir. The 12-month ageing regime combines tradition and innovation: one portion matures in amphorae to preserve floral delicacy, and the other in oak barrels to impart structure and patina to this ageworthy wine. This approach magnifies the structure of the Merlot while retaining its generous, approachable fruit. The wine is certified organic by FR-BIO-16 and biodynamic by Demeter, underscoring our commitment to biodynamics in Bordeaux.

Aromatic Profile and Ageing Potential

The 2022 vintage of Les Astéries de Darche impresses with its vibrant colour and delicate floral bouquet. On the nose, notes of fresh red fruit intertwine with subtle spicy hints typical of Merlot, complemented by distinct limestone minerality. On the palate, the wine is supple and elegant, showing wonderful freshness and a fine, velvety tannic structure. Gentle extraction and refined elegance make it particularly savoury and enjoyable, far removed from overly powerful, heavily oaked Merlots. It offers excellent ageing potential and can be enjoyed over the next decade.

Suggested Food & Wine Pairings

Thanks to its floral delicacy and supple texture, Les Astéries de Darche is the ideal partner for refined dishes. It will pair exquisitely with slow-cooked shoulder of lamb, roasted squab pigeon with cherries, or a wild mushroom risotto. Its freshness will also complement Saint-Nectaire cheese or a traditional Provençal beef daube. It is the perfect bottle for dinners where you wish to surprise guests with a pure, lifted expression of limestone terroir in the Graves. Discover more food and wine pairings with our red wines.

Availability and Pricing

The cuvée Les Astéries de Darche is available at €19.00. Like our other single-vineyard cuvées, it reflects our commitment to offering authentic wines that are true to their terroir. Certified organic and Demeter biodynamic, it guarantees impeccable quality and full respect for the environment, offering exceptional value for money for a wine of such distinctive character.

The Label: A Reflection of the Terroir

The label for the cuvée Les Astéries de Darche is understated and elegant, showcasing the cuvée's name inspired by the geological treasure of our subsoil. It embodies our dedication through certified organic wines crafted with a biodynamic approach. Every detail of the packaging reflects the authenticity and distinct character of this Château Cazebonne cuvée.

Les Astéries de Darche is the fruit of our bold initiative to revive grape varieties that had disappeared from the Bordeaux landscape—fostering a rich viticulture that honours its heritage, made possible by the support of wine enthusiasts who have embraced our wines. Discover more about the history of these varieties by downloading our book on the history of Bordeaux grape varieties, test your knowledge with our wine quizzes, or explore the entire Cazebonne gravel rise and our full range of wines directly on our online shop. It is a textbook example of a mineral-driven Bordeaux wine.