The chilly air in the barrel cellar of Château La Fleur de Boüard was fragrant with wine aging in oak casks. Our guide handed my husband and me soft woolen wraps and suggested we station ourselves in the middle of the room. Lights dimmed. A multi-screen experience transported us through the region’s origins, terroir, and wine culture. The Chai de Lumière (Cellar of Lights) sets the tone for the château’s award-winning wine tourism and welcomed us to Bordeaux’s Right Bank.
Recently recognized by Great Wine Capitals for innovative wine tourism offerings, Château La Fleur de Boüard gave us a stellar introduction to Bordeaux’s diverse wine regions. Nestled in the Lalande de Pomerol subregion, the estate produces elegant wines outside Bordeaux’s historical classifications. For wine enthusiasts, there is plenty to discover here.
Bordeaux’s Right Bank
Bordeaux’s Gironde estuary divides the region into three main areas: the Left Bank, Right Bank, and Entre-Deux-Mers. The Left Bank’s prestigious subregions include Médoc and Graves. The Right Bank is known for the iconic Pomerol and Saint-Émilion appellations, beloved by wine connoisseurs. Entre-Deux-Mers, between two tidal rivers, produces red and white wines but is best known for its dry whites.
The Right Bank’s rich, Merlot-dominant wines receive accolades for their velvety texture and lush, fruit-forward profiles. Merlot thrives here, benefiting from the region’s clay and limestone soils. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot play supporting roles, as hot summers, low rainfall, and the frost of a continental climate challenge winemakers.
Lalande de Pomerol’s Terroir
Lalande de Pomerol follows a crescent-shaped path from the Pomerol plateau across the top of Saint-Émilion. Carved out of Pomerol in 1936, it benefits from the same terroir as its prestigious Right Bank neighbors but presents a distinct profile. Gravel, sand, and iron deposits here and there add layers of complexity.
Excellent gravel drainage promotes root growth and makes vines less susceptible to water retention. Sand adds lightness to the soil, producing delicate wines with concentrated flavors and enhanced minerality. The wines here, softer and more refined than Pomerol’s powerful, dense wines, balance richness and elegance.
Château La Fleur de Boüard
Hubert de Boüard, who also co-owns Château Angelus in Saint-Émilion, founded Château La Fleur de Boüard in 1998. The modern estate focuses on quality and innovation. In 2022, Hubert de Boüard expanded his team to include new co-owners and collaborators.
Director Emmanuel Teillet has played a vital role in developing the château’s wine tourism, blending state-of-the-art facilities with an authentic wine experience. Technical director Bryan Dessaint, who also advises Château Angelus, and cellar master Kinga Hars, oversee the production of the estate’s wines. They combine traditional winemaking methods with the latest technology to ensure precision and consistency.
Vineyard and Terroir
My husband and I explored the château’s vineyards between rain showers on an autumn day. We saw a range of grape varieties across the estate according to each plot’s terroir. Plantings featured unique mixtures of clay, gravel, and sand.
We were shown several sustainable practices Hubert de Boüard and his team have adopted to address climate change. For example, heat-resistant rootstock enables the vines to withstand hot and dry growing seasons. Narrow vine planting encourages competition among vines, improving root strength and yields.
Gravity-flow Vinification
At Château La Fleur de Boüard, a fully gravity-operated vinification process minimizes mechanical movement. It also allows the gentle handling of grapes. The process begins when the grapes arrive in the winery and continues as they are gently transferred to fermentation tanks and onward to barrels without using pumps. “Gravity enables us to handle the fruit with minimal disturbance,” explains Emmanuel Teillet. “This ensures production of wines that express the full complexity of our terroir.”
While many wineries incorporate gravity-fed systems, Château La Fleur de Boüard has taken the method to the next level, making it central to its winemaking philosophy. The winery’s design and the winemakers’ commitment to the process help maintain quality and precision throughout the winemaking cycle.
The Wines of Château La Fleur de Boüard
We were treated to exceptional wines during our stay, blends and single varietals that highlight the diversity of Lalande de Pomerol’s terroir:
- Château La Fleur de Boüard is the estate’s signature wine. Introduced in 1998, it was named the best Merlot in the world in 2001. Its intense flavors and subtle oak influence pair beautifully with artisanal chocolates.
- Le Plus is a rich, fruity, all-Merlot wine made from the château’s oldest vines. Unfiltered, it’s been described as a “Très Grand Vin” by critics. I would love to try it during truffle season.
- Le Lion de La Fleur de Boüard is a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend from younger vines. Smooth and powerful, it bursts with balanced fruit flavors.
In addition to blends, the château produces limited quantities of single varietals under the Vin de Pays de l’Atlantique appellation. Bold, barrel-aged Chardonnay matched well with Cap Ferret oysters baked under a Parmesan crust (Emmanuel Teillet suggested we pair it with caviar l’Aquitaine next time). The château’s other single varietals include Pinot Noir inspired by the Burgundy region and a fragrant Syrah.
Award-winning Wine Tourism
Wine tourism at Château La Fleur de Boüard aims to be informative and enjoyable, combining innovation and tradition. Visitors can explore the estate through various activities—the Cellar of Lights, winery tours, vineyard picnics, and hands-on workshops—that celebrate the talents of winemakers. The Cellar of Lights, designed by the team behind Bordeaux’s famous Les Bassins de Lumières, enhances every wine tourism experience at the château.
My husband and I experienced the equivalent of not one but two workshops. The Masterclass features a guided tasting of all five of the château’s top wines, highlighting the aromatic complexity of blended wines and the purity of the single varietals. In the Alchemy Workshop, participants step into the role of winemakers.
As wanna-be winemakers, we blended our cuvées from three of the château’s monovarietal wines. Guided by our workshop leader, we decided which grape varieties to emphasize and estimated the ideal proportions. After experimenting twice with different blends, we finalized our cuvées. Surprisingly, we achieved quite drinkable results for our two-bottle production run—a few steps above simple table wine!
While not filled with the flashing lights and music of the château’s Chai de Lumière, our wine-making experience was immersive and fun. It was an unforgettable highlight of our stay at Château La Fleur de Boüard.
If You Go
- Book workshops, lunches, and vineyard experiences directly on the château’s website. The activities can also be part of day trips organized through tour operators in Bordeaux city or Saint-Émilion.
- For overnight stays, the château offers three comfortable rooms in The Cube and spacious quarters in the Villa.
- You will need a car to explore the surrounding countryside or visit nearby Saint-Émilion, just six kilometers away.
- Get creative and work with the estate’s staff to craft your tailored wine experience!
Château La Fleur de Boüard hosted our stay in Bordeaux’s Right Bank.
You might also enjoy:
- A gourmet wine-pairing workshop in Bordeaux
- A Sense of Place: A Master Class in Wines of France’s Gigondas Region
- I Opened a Bottle of Wine That Costs $153.83
Read more from Anita at: Anita’s Feast
