L'Arrosee, Chateau
Summary
Château L'Arrosée was a historic 9.5-hectare Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé estate with Merlot-dominant vineyards planted on the limestone plateau and clay-limestone slopes until its 2013 acquisition by Clos Fourtet. The estate embodied traditional Bordeaux winemaking principles throughout its independent existence, with its distinguished terroir and classic varietal composition now contributing to the wines of Clos Fourtet under the Cuvelier family's stewardship.
Heritage & Leadership
Château L'Arrosée was a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé estate with a significant history in the appellation. The property changed hands in 2002 when it was acquired by Stéphane Szendroi, who managed the estate for approximately a decade. The most significant turning point in the château's recent history came in 2013 when the Cuvelier family, owners of neighboring Château Clos Fourtet, purchased L'Arrosée. Following this acquisition, the Cuveliers made the strategic decision to integrate L'Arrosée into their Clos Fourtet estate. This merger effectively ended the production of Château L'Arrosée as a separate wine, marking the conclusion of its independent identity in the Saint-Émilion classification.
Vineyards & Wines
Château L'Arrosée encompassed approximately 9.5 hectares of vineyards situated on the limestone plateau and slopes of Saint-Émilion. The vineyard composition featured predominantly Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc and smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, following the traditional varietal pattern of right bank Bordeaux estates. The terroir consisted of the clay-limestone soils characteristic of Saint-Émilion's better sites, providing good drainage and mineral components that contributed to the wine's structure and aging potential. Prior to its incorporation into Clos Fourtet, L'Arrosée produced wines that expressed the distinctive qualities of its specific terroir within the Saint-Émilion appellation.
Philosophy & Practice
Before its acquisition and subsequent integration into Clos Fourtet, Château L'Arrosée adhered to traditional Saint-Émilion winemaking practices. The estate focused on expressing the character of its terroir through careful vineyard management and winemaking techniques appropriate to the region. Following the 2013 acquisition, the vineyard parcels that once constituted Château L'Arrosée became part of the Clos Fourtet estate, with their fruit now contributing to the wines produced under that label. The technical expertise and resources of the Cuvelier family, with their established reputation at Clos Fourtet, have since been applied to these vineyard parcels, though they no longer produce a distinct L'Arrosée wine.