The Todeschini Family, Anne-Marie and Jean-Yves with their sons Karl and Yann, are the owners and passionate vignerons behind Saint-Emilion’s Grand Cru wines of Chateau Mangot, and the Chateau La Brande in next door’s Castillon appellation.
During a short visit at the estate near Saint-Emilion, I had the opportunity to feel the wine growing savoir-faire accumulated in the family over generations, and the current passion for making precise and terroir-driven wines instigated by brothers Karl and Yann Todeschini who have managed the estate since 2008.
I also witnessed the stunning beauty of this part of the Libournais area of Bordeaux’ right bank.
Check out the gorgeousness of Chateau Mangot and its vineyards in the video below:
Quick Tasting Notes & Reviews of Famille Todeschini Wines
2016 Sulfite-Free Le Marmot de la Brande
Score : 89/100 points
The ‘Marmot de la Brande’ (understand ‘the kid of La Brande’) is made from fruit sourced in the Castillon terroir, just like the wine’s elder sister, Château La Brande. The 2016 vintage is made from two vineyards blended at 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc.
This is virtually a ‘natural wine’, since no enological product was used during vinification or aging, including the absence of use of sulfites. The alcoholic fermentation was run in stainless steel tanks using indigenous (wild) yeasts only, while the malolactic fermentation took place in concrete tanks before a simple racking and bottling in February 2017.
Tasting Notes: A vibrant nose, full of precise fruit characters, fresh blackberry and raspberry. Spicy aromas lifted by white pepper tones. Some earthiness comes through providing character to the nose. A very juicy palate, tastes like fresh blueberry juice, and enjoyable vinosity. Edgy velvety texture. A truly delightful sulphite-free wine, the essence of Bordeaux fruit, without subterfuge.
2014 Château La Brande, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
Score: 90/100 Pts
Blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon with a small percentage of Petit Verdot. Aged for 12 months during which it was purposely divided into 3 batches to preserve freshness of fruit yet infused layers of depth: 1/3 in concrete tanks, 1/3 in 400-litre barrels and 1/3 in 225-litre barrels, mainly in 1, 2 and 3-year old oak wine barrels.
Tasting Notes: A smooth and silky, textural wine driven by vibrancy and a characterful fruitiness. A fruit-driven dry Bordeaux wine filled with zesty acidity, precise and somewhat deep.
2015 Château La Brande, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Score: 91+/100 points
Tasting Notes: Super juicy but deep and spicy, black olive, some earthiness. Also, juicy, crisp, and vibrant fruit. Very well integrated oak. Soft texture. Drink between 2019 and 2035.
2014 Château Mangot, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Score: 93/100 points
This Grand Cru wine from the St-Emilion is blended from 21 different vineyards from 4 main identified terroirs: at the foot of the slopes, on the slopes themselves, terraces, and plateaux. Each plot is vinified separately to allow the most precise extraction and vinification. The final blend includes 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The winemaking philosophy adopted by the Todeshini brothers is overall minimalist and generally non-interventionist, limiting additives and minimizing sulphur additions (30 to 70mg/l) to respect the fruit character. Aged 13 to 15 months in French-Oak Barrels (40% New).
Tasting Notes: A wine dominated by a Merlot aromatic profile, dark cherry, vanilla, clove, and black olive. Caramel, oak. Ripe and powerful, yet lovely and with crisp fruit character. Lovely and juicy.
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