GrapeRadio – Wine Talk Show

In 1993, billionaire Stephen Adams and his wife Denise were married at a country chapel in St.-Emilion, Bordeaux’s historic Right Bank city. This was the beginning of Adams’ fascination with French culture and wine, a fascination that would cause him to purchase six (and counting) Châteaux in and around St. Emilion. His considerably diverse holdings, amassed over the course of 47 years, include banks, billboards, recreational vehicles, and now wineries – and in France, no less. Known collectively as Adams French Vineyards, this gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘an American in Paris.’

Beginning in 2000, Stephen Adams bought Château Lagarosse, in the rolling hills of the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux. He followed this in 2002 with the purchase of Château de Candale in St.-Emilion. Still looking for a flagship winery, he found it in 2004 with the purchase of Château Fonplégade, a 48-acre property located on St.-Emilion’s limestone plateau, yet needing some TLC. His total renovation of the property, at a cost of $7 million, including large new fermentation tanks, and vineyard improvements.

In 2005, he bought Château de Bel-Air in Lalande-de-Pomerol. And, last year, he added Château Roylland in St.-Emilion and Château L’Enclos in Pomerol. All along, his strategy always was (and still is) to pay relatively low prices for properties, then upgrade heavily – all under the direction of Michel Rolland.

Join us as we talk with Stephen Adams at Château Fonplegade in St. Emilion, and tour vineyards and wineries of this and several other of Adams’ properties, including Château De Bel Air, Château de Candale, and Château Lagarosse.

For More Info on Adams French Vineyards: www.adamsfrenchvineyards.com/

The sponsor of this video is Millesima, Fine Wine Merchants: www.millesima-usa.com

As with many of the Pomerol properties in Bordeaux, Château Petit-Village is actually devoid of a grand Château. Laid out in a triangular shape, the estate consists of 11 hectares of vineyards, with a nucleus of small buildings that serve as winery, vineyard and business offices. Interestingly, this is presumed to account for its name, which means “small village”.

It is unknown who initially planted vines at the estate, but after the French Revolution, it has been under the ownership of several families, including the Dufresne family, the De Seguin family (Clos Fourtet), and was acquired by the négociant Fernand Ginestet in 1919. It remained among the Ginestet properties, along with other properties such as Château Margaux and Château Cos d’Estournel, until the difficult 1970s forced the Ginestets to divide their properties. Petit-Village was run by Bruno Prats until 1989 when it was sold to the present owners, the insurance group AXA Millésimes. Christian Seely oversees the AXA portfolio, but Petit-Village was managed by Jean-Michel Cazes and Daniel Llose until Cazes’ retirement. Currently, the property is managed by Daniel Llose and technical director, Serge Ley.

The property is nestled among some well-known neighbors: Vieux Château Certan, La Conseillante, and Beauregard. The Petit-Village vineyards consist of 75% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc, however, the cepage (blend) varies year to year (for 2007: 78% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc). As with nearly all Right Bank properties, the blend is predominately Merlot.

Join us as we talk with technical director Serge Ley about the vineyard, the winemaking, and of course, the wine.

For More Info on Château Petit-Village: www.petit-village.com/

The sponsor of this video is Millesima, Fine Wine Merchants: www.millesima-usa.com