News
Dillon Buys Saint-Emilion’s L’Arrosee Estate Bordering Quintus
History
Château L'Arrosée was first listed in Le Féret among the Saint-Emilion premiers crusb in 1868 when it belonged to Pierre Magne, a minister of Napoleon 3rd. At the time the property had neither vinigication nor ageing facilities and the harvest was sold to the co-operative. It was purchased by the Rodhain family in 1911. François Rodhain took over the estate in 1956 and by 1970, François had installed winemaking equipment and all the wine was being estate-bottled.
The 9ha estate of Château l'Arrosée enjoyed a renaissance under the ownership of Roger and Jean-Philippe Caille who bought the property in 2002. A new winery was completed in 2004 with the aim of taking l'Arrosée back to its glory days in the 19th Century when it was among the leading lights of St Emilion. The estate's steady progression can only continue under the ownership of Domaine Clarence Dillon, owners of the neighbouring Château Quintus and the famous Château Haut Brion, who bought l'Arrosée in 2013. The vineyards are planted with 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and, very unusually for St Emilion, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vineyards
L'Arrosée's 10 hectare vineyard is located on the western section of the St-Emilion `côtes` and is planted with Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), and Cabernet Franc (20%). The grapes are hand-harvested before being fermented in temperature-controlled concrete vats. The wine is then matured in 100% new oak casks for 12 months. It is bottled unfined and unfiltered.