#WinegrowerPortrait : Romain DEPONS
What is your role on the property?
General manager of the 3 vineyards of the Dassault family, I am the conductor of a young, dynamic and complementary team which is articulated around the technical, commercial and also administrative tasks.
With a technical background, I have a particular sensitivity to the vegetative cycle of the vines as well as to vinification.
Can you tell us about your wine estate?
When Marcel Dassault acquired Château Couperie in 1955, he also had a vision: to bring the colors of wine to the top.
He renamed the property after himself, replanted the vineyard and modernized the facilities.
The exceptional environment invites to a high quality work: with its geology, its climate and its heritage, Saint-Émilion has been for a long time a great terroir to which it is necessary to know how to rise. This challenge was met in less than fifteen years: in 1969, Château Dassault joined the list of Grands Crus Classés and has remained on it ever since. With Château La Fleur and Château Faurie de Souchard, acquired in 2002 and 2013 respectively, it is now at the heart of a 60-hectare estate that beats with the same passion for excellence.
A fun fact you can share with us ?
The 5-hectare listed park around the château includes a pond, century-old trees and a rare biodiversity in the heart of the vineyard.
YOU ARE ONE OF THE 24 "COUPS DE CŒUR 2023" OF THE SAINT-EMILION WINES. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
"We are very honored to once again be among the honorees."
Can you tell us about the awarded vintage?
After a dry and hot summer allowing our grapes to ripen optimally, this 2019 presents itself with an intense aromatic radiance. With a full, suave and voluptuous frame, Château DASSAULT 2019 offers remarkable balances built around a sought-after and obtained freshness.
Can you suggest a food and wine pairing with this vintage ?
The perfect pairing is a veal chop cooked with vine shoots from Château Dassault.
A final word
Faithful to the aeronautical roots of the owner family, the three Dassault vineyards have been able to incorporate technology on their own scale and combine it with the oldest wine-making techniques.
Gravity harvesting, plot-by-plot fermentation, controlled maturation in barrels: the new wineries are a state-of-the-art tool to express the terroir at its best. The most characteristic plots of the vineyards are entirely vinified in barrels to further refine their aromatic profile.
All the know-how used here contributes to revealing the personality of each vintage in a respectful and meticulous way. A work of patience rewarded for more than 60 years by racy, silky, complex and elegant wines.