PR91909

PARIS, Sept. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

An age-old vineyard, with an extraordinary past, present and future

The history of Quintus is closely linked to that of Saint-Emilion, one of the

oldest winegrowing areas of the region. Perched on a limestone promontory,

culminating at an altitude of 62 metres, Quintus offers up a breath-taking

360-degree view across the Dordogne valley. Its topography, boasting a plateau

and featuring north, west and south facing slopes, comprises an incredible

abundance of micro-climates and limestone soils, especially well suited for

extricating the finest qualities of the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grape

varietals.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8959451-chateau-quintus-grows-with-the-acquisition-of-chateau-grand-pontet/

Established in 2011, Chateau Quintus released its 10th vintage this past year,

with its highly acclaimed 2020.

The Gallo-Romans, creators of the Saint-Emilion vineyards, traditionally named

their fifth son Quintus ("fifth" in latin). Domaine Clarence Dillon paid

tribute to their predecessors by naming their 5th First wine, Quintus, which

naturally takes its place alongside the 4 exceptional red and white wines of

Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion.  

Quintus grows with the acquisition of its close neighbour, Chateau Grand-Pontet

Chateau Quintus is acquiring Chateau Grand-Pontet, a Grand Cru Classe, located

in an exceptional position just a few metres from the famous village of

Saint-Emilion and only 1 km to the north of its existing parcels. This property

is surrounded by three prestigious Premiers Grands Crus Classes: Chateaux

Canon, Clos Fourtet and Beausejour Becot, on the Western plateau of

Saint-Emilion.

With the addition of these parcels, Quintus also becomes one of Saint-Emilion's

largest properties, representing 45 hectares (111 acres), 42 (104 acres) of

which are planted in vines. The addition of this illustrious historical terroir

offers the wine making team with ever greater possibilities for creating their

wines from a very stringent selection at this Right bank estate.

Grand-Pontet and the two prior estates, united over a decade to form Chateau

Quintus, figure among the oldest and most exalted growths of Saint-Emilion and

historically were all three featured as "Premier Cru de Saint-Emilion" in the

Feret wine guide, published between 1908 and 1949.  

Excerpt from the Feret wine guide of 1908, concerning Mr Combrouze, then owner

of Chateau Grand-Pontet and Mayor of Saint-Emilion: "Giving a new lease of life

to one of the oldest Premiers Crus…"

Excerpt from the Feret wine guide of 1974: "Its unique position makes it one of

Saint-Emilion's most beautiful sites. The very old vines that form this

vineyard, spared by the frosts of 1956, bring out the very distinctive

character of its wine, full of power and delicacy, whose bottles are renowned

for the fact of their age worthiness of fifty years and more."

"In 2011, my family, our team and I expressed our ambitious goals, with our

communicated desire to craft one of the very finest wines possible in

Saint-Emilion. By assembling some of the most promising parcels and terroirs we

would attempt to create a new star of the Right bank; Quintus. After more than

10 vintages, I am proud to say that our exceptional winemaking team are

excelling at meeting this challenge. The addition of this promising terroir at

Grand-Pontet, not only re-affirms our deep commitment to this venture but also

provides our oenologists with a larger and more diverse palette to be able to

realise our shared dream." Prince Robert de Luxembourg - Chairman & CEO

Mariette Veyssiere, appointed as new Manager of Chateau Quintus

Prince Robert of Luxembourg – Chairman & CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon - and

Jean-Philippe Delmas – Managing Director Wines and Estates – announce the

appointment of Mariette Veyssiere as Manager of Quintus.  

Mariette Veyssiere represents the 5th generation of the Veyssiere family

devoted to the terroir of Saint-Emilion. Having honed her skills through

numerous work experiences at Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion,

Petrus, Chateau Latour and in California, Mariette joined the team at Chateau

Quintus at the end of 2013. Initially charged with QSE (Quality Security &

Environment) her knowledge and responsibilities have evolved naturally over the

years. She inspires a progression in winegrowing methods at the estate. The

continuous efforts of all the Quintus teams involved in these environmental

procedures have been rewarded by the estate obtaining dual certification: High

Environmental Value (HEV) in 2018 and ISO 14001 in 2019.

All of these environmental considerations are shared by the Pourquet-Becot

family, whose team will now join the Quintus family under the new management of

Mariette Veyssiere.

Phenomenal biodiversity

The environmental specificity of Chateau Quintus lies in its Mediterranean

Green Belt, a true haven of biodiversity. The sublime natural gardens and

terraces of Quintus, representing two hectares, are enchanting from the very

the first glance. These boast numerous hedgerows, majestic holm oaks, low stone

walls and verdant escarpments. These treasures of the landscape heritage that

surround the plots of vines are important shelters for natural allies, vital to

the success of the vineyard.

The recent inventory of the profusion of auxiliary fauna and flora of the

property, carried out with the assistance of a doctor of entomology and

landscape ecology, reveals a rare abundance of species: 800 types of auxiliary

fauna gathered, divided into 200 different species and 80 varieties of wild

flower were counted at the estate.

To supplement these natural assets and enrich this breeding ground of

biodiversity, the vineyard workers sow wild flowers on fallow land on the

escarpments of the hillside slope, and in plots where vines have just been

uprooted. They also plant hedgerows of local varieties, creating ecological

corridors in the less wooded areas.

In order to protect this biodiversity, no insecticide product has been used at

the property since 2017.

About Domaine Clarence Dillon

Established in 1935, the family-run company Domaine Clarence Dillon is owner of

several prestigious wine estates, Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau La Mission

Haut-Brion and Chateau Quintus. In 2005, Clarence Dillon Wines, one of

Bordeaux's most significant fine wine merchant was founded while also creating

Bordeaux's premier super premium family of wines; Clarendelle. Domaine Clarence

Dillon also owns a Parisian residence, truly an embassy for the French art of

living, so highly prized by its Chairman and CEO, Prince Robert of Luxembourg.

This houses the two-starred gastronomic restaurant, Le Clarence and La Cave du

Chateau, an exceptional retail and e-tail shop selling the finest wines and

spirits from France's terroirs (www.lcdc.wine). In 2018, Prince Robert of

Luxembourg and Domaine Clarence Dillon joined "Primum Familiae Vini" (Leading

Wine Families), an international association bringing together 12 families,

owners of prestigious estates and domains producing some of the world's finest

wines.  In September of 2021, a new visitor centre and wine shop were opened at

Chateau Haut-Brion in Bordeaux.

Contact: c.riffaud@domaineclarencedillon.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1634382/Chateau_Grand_Pontet.jpg

Logo -  https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1634381/Chateau_Quintus_Logo.jpg

SOURCE: Domaine Clarence Dillon, Chateau Quintu