Chateau La Renomee 2014 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

An amazing find! Given the nickname "the Bad Boy" of Saint-Emilion by Robert Parker, Jean-Luc Thunevin has managed throughout his career to become little by little a central figure of the exclusive Bordeaux wine industry. He made massive waves as the original "Garagiste", with his Chateau Valandraud and now 20 properties in Bordeaux' Right Bank.

In 1988, Thunevin created his own wine merchant THUNEVIN SAS, which handles the distribution of his wines from Bordeaux and the Roussillon. He also carries a large range of carefully selected wines from Bordeaux sold in exclusivity including this one. Chateau Renomee is a 100 year old family-owned property located in Saint Etienne de Lisse, about 5 minutes from city center of Saint-Emilion. A boutique property in the Saint Emilion Grand Cru appellation, producing only 1500 cases a year. It boasts mature vines averaging 35 years of age on clay, limestone soils.


This wine from the superb but often overlooked 2014 vintage is 80% Merlot and 20% a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The wine received a comprehensive and integrative oak treatment of 12 to 18 months in oak barrels, 1/3 new oak, 1/3 1 year old and 1/3 2 years old, resulting in a wine with dark berry fruit and smoke. The rich flavors are underpinned by a fine vein of polished tannin. This is a modern wine that is drinking beautifully right now and will continue to develop with further aging for several more years to come. It's limited so don't miss it!