Chateau Hostens Picant Sainte Foy Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Hostens Picant, Sainte Foy Bordeaux with wine tasting notes, ratings, a history of the property, wine and food pairing tips, best vintages, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Hostens Picant History, Overview

The modern era for Chateau Hostens Picant starts in 1986 when Yves Hostens Picant and Nadine Hostens Picant purchased the estate. They renamed the property and the hard work began for the couple.

Prior to their purchase, the harvest was sold to negociants. It took 4 years before they produced the first vintage of Chateau Hostens Picant. This was necessary because, at the time of the purchase, the vineyard and winemaking facilities were in serious need of renovation.

The estate had fallen into a dilapidated state. In 1986, only 19 of the estate’s 42 hectares were even planted! They desperately needed to increase the vine density as well.

As you can easily guess, it was quite an expensive and time-consuming process to cultivate the remaining 23 hectares with vines. The next major decision for the new owners was to bring in the team of Stephane Derenoncourt to consult on their vineyards and with their work in the cellars. This took place in 2004.

Chateau Hostens Picant Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 39-hectare vineyard of Chateau Hostens Picant is planted for both red and wine grapes. 30 hectares of vines are planted to 66% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon for the red wine grapes.

For their white Bordeaux wine, 9 hectares of vines are planted to 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Muscadelle.

The vines are located in the little-known, Sainte Foy appellation, which is about 45 minutes to an hour from St. Emilion. Their relatively close proximity to the Right Bank explains why their terroir is quite similar to what you can find in many Right Bank vineyards.

Hostens Picant produces both red and white Bordeaux wine. 32 hectares of vines are devoted to red wine grapes, and the remaining 10 hectares are dedicated to the production of white Bordeaux wine. The terroir is gravel, clay, and limestone soils.

The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 6,000 vines per hectare. This represented a major change in the vineyard because prior to their purchase of the estate, the vineyard was only planted to 3,200 vines per hectare.

To produce the red wine of Chateau Hostens Picant, the wine is vinified in a combination of 21, stainless steel and wood vats that vary in size from 65 hectoliters up to 250 hectoliters. Malolactic fermentation for Hostens Picant takes place in tanks. On average, the wine is aged in 33% new, French oak for about 18 months.

Chateau Hostens Picant also produces a special cuvee’, Chateau Hostens Picant Cuvee d’Exception Lucullus. For their high-end wine, Hostens Picant Cuvee d’Exception Lucullus, the wine which made its debut in 1998, is fermented in a combination of stainless steel vats and oak tanks.

Malolactic fermentation for Hostens Picant Cuvee d’Exception Lucullus takes place in barrel. Chateau Hostens Picant Cuvee d’Exception Lucullus receives much more work with their aging as the wine is aged in 100% new, French oak barrels for 18 months.

The estate also produces 2 white Bordeaux wines, Hostens Picant Blanc and Hostens Picant Cuvee des Demoiselles. To produce the white wine of Hostens Picant, the wine is vinified and aged in a combination of new and used, French oak barrels.

The white Bordeaux wine of Hostens Picant has limited skin contact. The wine is completely vinified in used and new, French oak barrels. There is no malolactic fermentation. The white wine is aged on its lees with stirring for about 10 months before bottling.

The total production for all 4 wines from Hostens Picant is about 16,500 cases per year.

The best vintages of Chateau Hostens Picant are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

When to Drink Chateau La Graviere, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Hostens Picant is better with at least 1-3 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for up to 1 hour, helping the wine soften to help develop the aromatic character.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Hostens Picant offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 2-8 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Hostens Picant with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Hostens Picant is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Hostens Picant is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Hostens Picant is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

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