Located in the renowned Bordeaux appellation of Saint-Émilion, Château La Clide has been in the Desplat family for four generations, their ancestors having arrived from Spain at the beginning of the 20th century. Previously a small estate of around four hectares, it has been expanded in the last thirty years by the current winemaker, Édouard, and his parents, adding two parcels and opening a new cellar in 2011, all the while honoring the family’s history on the land.
It was also at that time that Édouard decided to focus on sustainability in his approach to winemaking. After getting an initial Haute Valeur Environnementale certification, he doubled down on his commitment to biodiversity and operating in harmony with the environment, and is on track to this year become the first certified organic estate in Saint-Émilion, as well as being a Bordeaux Grand Cru.
Growing mostly Merlot, but also a bit of Cabernet Franc for balance, Édouard strives to create wines that are clean, direct and unpretentious. The terroir is largely gravel, with good amounts of silica, and his vines average more than 45 years old. Fermentation is done in stainless steel, with ageing done in a mix of old and new oak.