At a time when the vineyards of Bordeaux attract large investors, families can be seen as kind of survivors. But bearing the name of Aubert, a family business that has no less than 6 properties all on the Right Bank, and whose roots date back the eighteenth century, is not a guarantee. You have to prove yourself. How do you take over the reins when your name is Yohan Aubert?
You are winegrowers from father to son for 8 generations in Saint-Emilion,
is it an option? An obligation?
It is above all an obvious continuity. At 8, I accompanied my father, we took Air Inter to sell our bottles at Rungis. I liked that. Quickly, I understood this notion of passage, time, history to build, heritage to value. Today, we are two generations at the helm of the Aubert vineyards. Alain, Jean-Claude and Daniel are the patriarchs who have worked for years to perfect the wines of the estate and we are 3 with my cousins Vanessa, Héloïse to work now, each on different properties and commercial sectors. We work in osmosis, we talk a lot. But we are only at the beginning of the history ... We have already developed projects, such as the cuvee Héritage de la Couspaude, a brand we created in 2014.
In a few figures, what do the Aubert vineyards represent?
Almost all the Aubert vineyards are located on the right bank of the Garonne river. Today, we have 6 estates spanning six appellation areas: Lalande de Pomerol, Montagne Saint-Emilion, Côtes de Castillon, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur. The whole represents 225 hectares for about 1 million and a half bottles a year under 16 different labels without counting La Couspaude. Today we have a fairly wide range and volume, which allows us to offer wines with good value for money. We have also developed a receptive activity at La Couspaude, we can host seminars, events like the En Primeurs.
Tell us about Héritage de La Couspaude, it is an original project ...
It is not a second wine of La Couspaude but a brand created in 2014 whose grapes come from our different appellations. It is a wine positioned upmarket with plot selections. The farming and vinification methods applied are the same as in La Couspaude, while being on more affordable prices.
Château La Couspaude is the cornerstone of all the estates,
what are the projects?
In its history, Château La Couspaude had lost its rank of Classified Cru in 1986, a whole series of measures had been taken, in particular the hiring of Michel Rolland. The chateau had then regained its title from the 1996 classification and kept it. It is a ‘clos’, at the gates of the village, on a limestone plateau of 7 hectares in one piece. The soil is worked by horse so as not to pack the soil. Vinification is entirely done in barrels followed by 18 months of barrel aging. The estate, at the entrance of Saint-Emilion, is magnificent, with its 18th century ‘chartreuse’ country mansion, underground cellars dug into the stone and its reception room. Today, our ambition is to raise our flagship up to the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé. It deserves it !
Bénédicte Chapard
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