l'A, Domaine de
Summary
Domaine de l'A is the personal project of Stéphane and Christine Derenoncourt, who produce around 30,000-40,000 bottles annually from their 10-12 hectare estate on limestone-clay hillsides in Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, focusing on a single Merlot-dominant red wine. Their minimalist approach—featuring hand-harvesting, gentle extraction, concrete or wooden vat fermentation, and organic farming practices—has elevated both the estate and the entire Castillon appellation beyond its traditional standing in the Bordeaux hierarchy.
Heritage & Leadership
Domaine de l'A was established in the late 1990s by Stéphane Derenoncourt and his wife Christine, with their first vintage released in 1999. Located in the commune of Sainte-Colombe within the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation on Bordeaux's Right Bank, this estate represents the Derenoncourts' personal winemaking project.
Stéphane Derenoncourt, widely recognized for his extensive consulting work with numerous prestigious estates throughout Bordeaux and internationally, maintains direct oversight of winemaking at Domaine de l'A. Christine Derenoncourt serves as co-owner and participates actively in the estate's management. Since its founding, the property has remained family-owned and operated, reflecting the couple's commitment to creating wines that express their personal winemaking philosophy.
The estate has emerged as a reference point for quality within the Castillon appellation, demonstrating the potential of this region that forms a natural eastern extension of Saint-Émilion. Despite coming from a less prestigious appellation than some of its neighbors, Domaine de l'A consistently receives strong critical recognition for its wines.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine de l'A encompasses approximately 10-12 hectares of vineyards situated on the limestone and clay soils characteristic of the eastern extension of Saint-Émilion. The estate's vineyards benefit from hillside exposures that provide natural drainage for the vines.
The vineyard is planted predominantly with Merlot (70-80%) complemented by Cabernet Franc (20-30%), with possibly small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, reflecting the typical varietal composition of Right Bank Bordeaux. These vines average between 20-30 years of age, contributing to the concentration and character of the resulting wines.
The estate produces a single red wine, simply named "Domaine de l'A," classified under the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. This wine typically displays a rich and concentrated profile while maintaining freshness and minerality—characteristics that reflect both the limestone-clay terroir and Derenoncourt's winemaking approach. The limited annual production ranges between 30,000-40,000 bottles.
Philosophy & Practice
The winemaking philosophy at Domaine de l'A closely mirrors Stéphane Derenoncourt's overall approach to viticulture and vinification, emphasizing minimal intervention and respect for terroir expression. This begins in the vineyard with hand-harvesting and careful sorting of the grapes to ensure only the highest quality fruit enters production.
Fermentation takes place in concrete or wooden vats, vessels chosen to preserve fruit purity while allowing gentle extraction of tannins and color. Following fermentation, the wine ages in French oak barrels, with approximately 30-40% new oak, striking a balance between oak influence and fruit expression.
The technical approach includes minimal sulfur usage, gentle extraction techniques, no fining, and minimal filtration before bottling—all practices aligned with Derenoncourt's philosophy of creating authentic wines that reflect their origin. The estate has been implementing organic farming practices in its vineyard management, though specific certification status has not been confirmed.
Through these methods, Domaine de l'A has established itself as a benchmark producer within the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, demonstrating the quality potential of this region through wines that balance power with elegance and terroir expression.