Ageing our wines is an important step between vinification and the final blending. Our red wines spend several months in oak barrels and have remarkable aromatic subtlety, thanks to the ageing process and the skills of Thierry, Baron de Lestac's cellar master.
The Baron de Lestac cellar is in Blanquefort, between the city of Bordeaux and the Médoc vineyards. This is not just where wine barrels are stored, but a place where the tiniest details matter, starting with temperature and hygrometry levels. Our cellar is half-underground, has mist sprays, a constant temperature of 18 C° and a humidity rate of 75% - 80%
Over time, the barrel-ageing process provides the wine with aromatic complexity.
Thierry L.Cellar master
Thierry monitors these details with precision: barrels are where biochemical exchanges between wood and wine take place, which in turn encourages complex aromas (cocoa, coffee, dried fruit...) to develop. The cellar master's role is to follow this process very closely, in order to identify the ideal ageing time for the style of wine being made. The nature and intensity of these aromas is a question of time which can also vary as a function of the barrels used. The wood's origin, toast and cooperage are all parameters that add nuance, and the cellar master's skill is finding the perfect combination. For our Baron de Lestac red wine Thierry decided on a six-month ageing period in American oak barrels, while Les Hauts de Lestac spends 10 months in French oak.
But if the nature and intensity of these aromas depend on time, they will also differ based on the barrels we select. Factors like the wood's origin, toasting method, and cooper's craftsmanship all contribute their nuances, and it's the cellar master's expertise that guides us to find the ideal blend. In the case of our Baron de Lestac Red Thierry has chosen to age this wine for approximately 6 months in American oak barrels, versus 10 months in French oak barrels for Les Hauts de Lestac
Learn about barrel making with our cooper Learn about our wine blends
