Château Les Paruades
This wine embodies ancestral know-how while embracing modern winemaking, highlighting the finesse of the Palus terroir. Its aging in stainless steel tanks imparts aromatic purity, making it ideal for early tasting while maintaining good aging potential.
Château Les Paruades thus represents an accessible Bordeaux Supérieur, imbued with the history and refinement of its home estate, Château Lescalle.
History
Château Les Paruades is produced by Château Lescalle, a historic estate located in Macau in Médoc, near the Margaux appellation. The origins of Château Lescalle date back to 1875 when Emmanuel Tessandier, then regent of the Banque de France in Bordeaux and later in Paris, began planting the vineyard. Captivated by the beauty of the Garonne’s banks, he established this estate in the Palus, a fertile area of white clay.
After a hiatus in 1954, the vineyard was gradually replanted starting in 1983. Emmanuel Tessandier, passionate about the art of viticulture and winemaking, meticulously tended to his plots. A fine gourmet, he hosted receptions at Château Lescalle, bringing together influential figures and distinguished personalities. His dedication to the region led him to become mayor of Macau in 1876, a position he held until 1878.
The Vineyard
Covering an area of 3.5 hectares, the vineyard of Château Les Paruades is planted on Palus soil, composed of white clay, a characteristic feature of this fertile zone near the Gironde estuary. With a density of 5,000 vines per hectare, the vineyard is primarily planted with Merlot (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%).
The estate follows a sustainable viticulture approach, incorporating meticulous vine monitoring and precise control of berry ripeness, both through taste and analysis, to ensure an optimal harvest. The grapes are harvested mechanically, enabling a swift and efficient collection to preserve their freshness.
Winemaking & Aging
Once harvested, the grapes undergo a rigorous selection process, first in the vineyard and then on a sorting table, ensuring that only the highest-quality berries are retained. The grapes are then fully destemmed, allowing for a pure vinification and controlled tannin extraction.
Fermentation takes place in thermo-regulated stainless steel and concrete tanks, maintaining an optimal temperature of around 28°C throughout the process. To extract the aromatic and phenolic compounds from the must, three pump-overs are carried out daily, promoting aroma diffusion and building the wine’s structure. Depending on tasting evaluations, one to three rackings are performed to refine the wine’s balance. Finally, a traditional egg-white fining is conducted, ensuring optimal finesse and clarity.
Château Les Paruades is then aged for 12 months in stainless steel tanks. This approach preserves the fruit’s freshness, highlighting the natural expression of the terroir without any oaky influence, resulting in an authentic and vibrant wine.
Wine Character
Château Les Paruades stands out for its elegance and balance. The Merlot brings roundness and ripe red fruit aromas, while the Cabernet Sauvignon structures the wine, giving it remarkable depth.
On the nose, notes of black fruits, plum, and cherry emerge, enhanced by a subtle spicy touch. On the palate, the wine is smooth, with a velvety texture and a beautiful length, characteristic of Bordeaux Supérieur wines from the Palus terroir.
This wine pairs ideally with grilled meats, saucy dishes, or aged cheeses.
