THE STORY OF A 435 YEARS OLD OAK TREE

Once upon a time, an historical oak tree…
Planted in 1560, it was 435 years old and was the eldest and without any doubt the most beautiful and most majestic of the French forest of Saint-Palais, based a few kilometres north of Bourges. It measured 37 m in height (similar to a 10 story building), its trunk alone measured 20 meters, had a circumference of 6 meters and weighed 35 tons.

One says that this tree had found its place in a junction of telluric strengths. Legend has it that Sully, King Henri IV Minister of Finance, regularly came to find resourcefulness. King Charles V and Agnès Sorel are also said to be seen around making fit on aim for their stroll. Then numerous were the “faithful” coming to draw out energy at the base of Saint-Etienne, name given to this tree in honour of its predecessor who were used in the construction of the framework for the cathedral of Saint-Etienne in Bourges.

The fairy tale that nearly came to an end in June 1993 , when a powerful thunderstorm fall on our countryside and struck this tree of mystical effect. A sad ending ? No, Camille Gauthier, a woodcutter from Méry-es-Bois, Jean Vicard, a cooper from Cognac and our family – all of whom are lovers of wood and tradition – decided to offer the old oak a second life: its wood would be used to construct barrels for the wines of our estate.

Camille Gauthier bought this tremendous Senior of the forest using a lot of determination. Because this tree aroused wood lovers’ cupidity from all over the world. Finally, it was cut down on March 17,1995 during a memorable and rather touching ceremony broadcasted on television.

Since then, the woodcutter and the cooper did their workmanship. The staves dried for around 4 years in order for the wood to “disgorge” its most harsh and tough tannins. After this stage, the staves jointing gave birth to 40 barrels plus and tough tannins. After this stage, the staves jointing gave birth to 40 barrels, 228 liters Burgundy-type ones, and some half barrels (600 liters).

Since the Henri Bourgeois family, wine maters for 10 generations, worked considerably and gratified with great care a selection of their best lands which are the source of this future nectar. Therefore 3 vintages of this famous cuvée, white Sancerre: 2000, 2001 and 2002 ; red Sancerre: 2000, 2002 and 2003 were vinified and aged in the St-Etienne oaked wood barrels St-Etienne.

In tribute to this tree we have, in March 2005, reforested a plot of the Saint-Palais forest, destroyed by the storm in December 1999, jointly with the French National Forest Service (ONF). On this land, close to the one of the St-Etienne oak tree, were planted 1000 sessile oak trees. Before its death, it produced many acorns which fell on its out skirts and germinated in nursery in order to give seedlings. These young sprouts, sons of the St-Etienne oak tree, will be named after their future godfathers, whom would have bought 12 of these rare bottles.

After 100 years, these trees will be big enough to be used in a cooperage. From 180 years, 40 of the most beautiful oak trees will be chosen by lumbermen during 2 centuries in order to constitute the final plantation, will be future St-Etienne oak trees of the 2200 years.

TWO PRESTIGIOUS AND RARE CUVÉES

WINEMAKING AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION :

White Sancerre LE CHÊNE SAINT-ETIENNE

Grape variety : Sauvignon blanc
Terroir : Kimmerigien marls

This cuvée is produced from a selection of very old vines from the village of Chavignol, growing on the famous “Côte des Monts Damnés”. Low yields assure an optimum concentration of the wine without loss of balance. Concerning the winemaking, gravity use throughout the winemaking permit to optimise the excellence of the raw material. The alcoholic fermentation place in thermoregulating new casks (with some serpentines installed in each of them) for several weeks. Throughout the maturation, the wine is stirred (putting again the lees in suspension) twice weekly which helps to become rich and unctuous.

Red Sancerre LE CHÊNE SAINT-ETIENNE

Grape variety : Pinot noir
Terroir : Limestone

This wine is issued from a selection of very old vines growing on the chalky slopes of Chavignol, known locally as “griottes”. Alcoholic fermentation is carried out in stainless steel vats (10 to 14 days) between 26° and 32°C. During this time, the grape are punched manually and delicately and the juice pumped over twice daily.
Malolactic fermentation taken place in the famous barrels, as did ageing for 18 months.

TASTING AND SERVING SUGGESTIONS :

White Sancerre LE CHÊNE SAINT-ETIENNE
Brilliant golden yellow, it glisten by his sheen. The nose is powerful and very aromatic with notes of very ripe yellow fruits (even tropical fruits), vanilla and spices! The palate is round, full and powerful yet well-balanced. Serve this wine with great fish dishes or, even better, a “Côte de Veau Crémeuse aux Langoustines et Marjolaine” (veal cutlet with a langoustine and marjoram cream sauce).

Red Sancerre LE CHÊNE SAINT-ETIENNE
Bright garnet with red tints. A genuine basket of red and black fruits with hints of game and spice. On the palate, its ampleness and structure are surprising and the tannins are very well assimilated. Serve it with a beef tournedos with chanterelle mushroom even a few small games with red fruits.

The trees of the “district of Saint-Etienne” have a fine and dense texture, owing to their slow and steady growth. Its characteristics were more especially imprinted in the Saint-Etienne oak tree due to its great age. In contact with this unique wood, the wine started a slow oxidation through the staves. The tannins given by the “oak” are of great finesse, become united in the greatest harmony to the precious liquid and awards wooden flavours of an unequalled softness.