Updates Index

For as long as profiles have been published on Winedoctor, I have returned to update, expand and improve them, alongside the ongoing publication of my various tasting reports. In recent times I have publicised this program of updates on my home page, linking to refreshed and revitalised profiles. As we come out of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, and I am attending more tastings, I find I now have a rapidly building backlog of tasting reports.

It is a good problem to have!

As a consequence I need to shift the focus of the Winedoctor homepage to these tasting reports, and away from my profile updates (as important as they are).

From this point on I will therefore focus more on tasting reports on my home page, the usual mix of vintage reports, vertical tastings, domaine updates and any other tastings I think worthy of writing up, alongside my wine guides and the occasional dining report. I will only link to the most significant profile updates from the homepage. I will continue refreshing and adding updated information to my many profiles in the background though, and I will record those changes here rather than on the homepage.

Château Peyrabon (9/4/23) Updated to reflect this property’s acquisition by the Castéja family.

Alain & Loïc Cailbourdin (9/4/23) Updated with details of the new and renamed cuvées.

Clos La Madeleine (2/4/23) An updated profile of this domaine, now disappeared, having been subsumed into Château Belair-Monange.

Château Belair-Monange (2/4/23) An update following the absorption of the vines of Clos La Madeleine.

Château Cos Labory (26/3/23) Updated to include its purchase by Michel Reybier, of Château Cos d’Estournel.

Clos Fourtet (26/3/23) A huge update with new detail and images.

Château Beauséjour (19/3/23) Updated with some background details on Joséphine Duffau-Lagarosse.

Domaine des Aubuisières (19/3/23) Updated with details of Charles Lesaffre, and his plans for the domaine.

Château Dassault (12/3/23) An expanded vineyard, with the vines of Château Faurie de Souchard.

Château Faurie de Souchard (12/3/23) Disappeared in the 2022 St Emilion classification; presumed now part of Château Dassault.

Domaine Cady (8/1/23) Updated with details of the 2021 fire and the subsequent construction of new cellars.

Château Lascombes (8/1/23) Sold in 2022, this updated profile includes details of the new owners.

Château Pavie (13/11/22) Updated with new opinion on recent vintages, and detailed of the expanded vineyard after the absorption of the vines of Château Pavie-Decesse.

Château Fourcas Dupré (13/11/22) Updated to reflect a change in ownership in 2019, as well as new detail on vineyards, winemaking and recent vintages.

Château Cheval Blanc (9/10/22) An update to reflect the property’s new position outside the St Emilion classification.

Domaine Richou (9/10/22) The domaine has been sold, and rechristened Terra Vita Vinum. My profile updated to reflect these developments.

Château Ausone (2/10/22) Updated to reflect the Vauthier family rescinding this property’s premier grand cru classé status.

Clos Roche Blanche (2/10/22) A sad update to note the passing of Catherine Roussel in September 2022.

Le Clos Galerne (2/10/22) A broad update to add new details on the vineyards, and new images, following my visit there this year.

Château La Gaffelière (25/9/22) Updated with details of the withdrawal from the 2022 St Emilion classification, also added details on the new white cuvée.

Château Angélus (25/9/22) Updated to reflect the property’s change in status following its withdrawal from the 2022 St Emilion classification, added details on new cuvées (Hommage à Elisabeth Bouchet, and the new white cuvée), and added new images.

Château les Grandes Murailles (18/9/22) An update on this estate, disappeared from the St Emilion classification, and absorbed into the vineyard of Clos Fourtet.

Château Pavie-Decesse (18/9/22) An update on this estate, disappeared from the St Emilion classification, and absorbed in to the vineyard of Château Pavie.

Château La Clotte (11/9/22) Updated to reflect this property’s departure from the St Emilion classification, plus new commentary on recent vintages.

Château Quinault L’Enclos (11/9/22) Updated to reflect this property’s departure from the St Emilion classification, plus new commentary on recent vintages.

Sidebar Updates (11/9/22) I have amended all my St Emilion sidebars to reflect the new rankings of the châteaux following the publication of the 2022 St Emilion classification, and I have commenced a programme of St Emilion updates where necessary.

Château Couhins-Lurton (7/9/22) New details of the domaine’s recent history added, with details of Jacques Lurton’s role as head of Vignobles André Lurton, and the creation of a new ‘parallel’ grand vin, Acte II.

Château Climens (21/8/22) Another update, to include details of recent difficult vintages, and to note the sale of this property to the Moitry family. Bérénice Lurton (pictured below) stays on as a consultant.

Les Roches Sèches (21/8/22) Despite a promising start, this domaine folded in 2017. Its driving force, Julien Delrieu, continued on alone. I update my profile to reflect these developments.

Château Guiraud (14/8/22) Added details of the sale of the controlling share of the property to Matthieu Gufflet, and the introduction of the new dry grand vin. Also noted the arrival of Sandrine Garbay from Château d’Yquem. Updated some historical details.

Château d’Yquem (14/8/22) Updated some historical details, as well as noting changes in the team, including the departures of Sandrine Garbay (pictured below) and Francis Mayeur (winemaker and technical director respectively) in 2022.

Château Belle-Vue (10/8/22) New details added after the termination of Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen’s involvement with the domaine in 2019, and the sale to Treasury Wine Estates in 2021.

Domaine Léandre-Chevalier (7/8/22) A sad update, as it turns out Dominique Léandre-Chevalier quietly declared bankruptcy in 2018.

Château Romer du Hayot (6/8/22) An expanded and refreshed profile.

Château Doisy-Dubroca (30/7/22) Expanded to three pages, with new details on its history, its acquisition by the Dubourdieu family, its replanting and the first vintages from this reborn estate.

Vincent Carême (27/7/22) Updated with new detail on the vineyards and portfolio of wines, including the new cuvée, Clos de la Roche Vouvray.

Château Pichon-Lalande (24/7/22) New details added on Nicolas Glumineau’s replanting program and his conversion of the vineyard to biodynamics, as well as his secret white project, as he plants Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay (with Chenin Blanc to follow?).

Château Nairac (23/7/22) Updated historical details, and noted recent difficult (frosted vintages), as well as the signing over of the management of the vineyard to Grands Chais de France.

Château Villemaurine (20/7/22) An update to note the sale of the property by the Onclin family to the Lefévère family in 2021.

Château de Myrat (16/7/22) Updated some historical details, added thoughts on recent vintages.

Château de Malle (9/7/22) Updated some historical details, added new images, added opinion on recent vintages.

Château Lamothe-Guignard (2/7/22) Updated some historical details, added opinion on recent vintages.

Château Lamothe (25/6/22) Updated some historical details, added opinion on recent vintages.

Château Suduiraut (12/6/22) Added details of the new portfolio of dry wines, including the Grand Vin Blanc Sec and Pur Sémillon, as well as adding some historical details and opinions on recent vintages.

Château Filhot (18/6/22) Updated some historical details, added new images, added opinion on recent vintages.

Château Doisy-Védrines (11/6/22) Updated some historical details, added opinion on recent vintages.

Château Margaux (8/6/22) A long-overdue overhaul of this profile, expanded from one page to twelve, with more historical detail, information on the construction and use of the new cellars, details and images of the white vineyard, new images throughout and fresh opinion on recent vintages.

Château Doisy-Daëne (9/4/22) Updated with opinion on recent vintages.

Château Broustet (26/3/22) Updated with opinion on recent vintages.

Château Caillou (19/3/22) Updated with opinion on recent vintages.

Château La Tour Blanche (29/1/22) Updated with opinion on recent vintages.