As I visit this site, I certify that I am of legal age to consume alcohol in my country of residence.
I am over 18 years old
Each year, the Coupe des Crus de Saint-Emilion honours 24 winners.
These men and women work day after day to produce wines that live up to the quality and environmental commitment of Saint-Emilion wines.
Discover these properties in Lussac Saint-Emilion, Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, as well as the Grands Crus Classés.
Today, we meet Antoine Authenac, a young winegrower aged 24, in charge of Château Lavalette, a family estate in the Saint-Emilion appellation.
2024 Favourites – Château Lavalette
At Château Lavalette, Antoine is in charge of making and marketing the wine. The 24-year-old winemaker has just taken over the family estate.
He tells us more about Domaine d’Arpaillan, the family estate that produces Château Lavalette, and about all the activities on offer at the property: aperitif boards, tours, unique overnight stays, etc.
I’m in charge of producing Château Lavalette wines, both in the cellar and in the vineyard, as well as selling them at wine fairs, for example. I’m also in charge of wine tourism on the estate, particularly with the Planches d’Arpaillan.
Lavalette is an elegant, structured and fruity wine. The wine is matured in concrete vats to bring out the very fruity aromas that are characteristic of Merlot, and a lovely touch. Maturing in concrete vats gives us all the structure of a well-finished wine.
One of its special features is the soil: Château Lavalette is produced on sandy soils. We produce 100% Merlot, with concrete vats to bring out the fruit and structure. We try to make a wine that everyone can enjoy and that is not aged in wood, to contrast with the other Saint-Emilion wines.
Château Lavalette is part of the Domaine d’Arpaillan family, which is our family estate in Naujan-et-Postiac. We produce Saint-Emilion, but we also make Crémant de Bordeaux, rosé and Bordeaux. And we also have a wine tourism business where we offer tasting boards in summer, unusual nights out all year round and lots of other things!
Lavalette is a small estate. We have 3 and a half hectares, so it’s really a family estate and not very large, which allows us to produce intimate vintages, with very few bottles, so they’re quite exclusive. We try to make unique wines that everyone can enjoy, whether you’re a connoisseur or not.
Bottles of Lavalette are kept for 3 years at the estate before being released on the market, so that we can offer a wine that has aged in the best possible conditions. It can therefore be drunk as soon as it comes onto the market, from the age of 3, and can be kept for at least ten years.
Simply enjoy one of the sharing platters available at Domaine d’Arpaillan in Naujan-et-Postiac. The ideal food and wine pairing for a moment with friends!
I’m taking part for the first time this year. I’d heard about it and I thought it was a good way of challenging myself, especially as I’ve just taken over the family estate and I’m a young winemaker just starting out. So it was interesting to be able to measure myself against the other wines in the appellation.
I’m particularly proud because I’m a young winemaker, and this is my debut in the world of wine, so it’s a great achievement, and I hope to have many more!
You are most welcome at Domaine d’Arpaillan! I’ll be delighted to show you around the property, welcome you to our restaurant with our apertif tray and why not let you enjoy a unique moment with an unusual night spent in a real oak large casks!
