Learn everything about Chateau Villemaurine St. Emilion with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Chateau Villemaurine History, Overview
Chateau Villemaurine is located not far from the picturesque St. Emilion village. The estate is one for the history books. At least that’s where Chateau Villemaurine found the inspiration for their name.
During the 8th century, an army of invaders took up residency and made an encampment on the land where this Right Bank property is located today. The camp was called, Ville Maure, which when translated, means the city of the Moors.
Chateau Villemaurine was purchased in June 2007 by Justin Onclin. Justin Onclin immediately modernized the estate. He added a new vat room with numerous, temperature-controlled, smaller vats as well as a new tasting area and updated cellars.
The low capacity vats allow for parcels to be vinified one at a time. They made another change at Chateau Villemaurine, they brought in Stephane Derenoncourt to consult. He was replaced in a few years by Hubert de Bouard of Chateau Angelus, which based on the wines being made today was a very savvy move.
In April 2021, the Onclin family sold Chateau Villemaurine to the Lefevere family who already owned several vineyards in St. Emilion including Chateau Sansonnet, Chateau Moulin du Cadet, and Chateau SoutardCadet.
Chateau Villemaurine Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 12-hectare vineyard of Chateau Villemaurine is planted to 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. This shows a change in the vineyard which was previously planted to 95% Merlot. The estate plans to increase the amount of Cabernet Franc planted in their vineyards to as much as 30% over time. The terroir is clay and limestone soils. On average, the vines are 30 years of age.
The best part of their vineyards is on the peak of the plateau which reaches up to 87 meters at its peak. When looking at their vineyard it is important to note that only a portion of their vines is classified as Grand Cru Classe’. You can divide the vineyard in 2 with 7.2 hectares classified as Grand Cru Classe’, and 4 hectares of vines remain Saint Emilion Grand Cru. The vineyard is planted to a density of 6,500 – 7,700 vines per hectare. The higher levels of density are for the newer plantings.
The wine of Chateau Villemaurine is whole berry fermented in new, dual-walled, 68 hectoliter, stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels. The wine is aged in 80% new, French oak barrels.
The Best Vintages of Chateau Villemaurine are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010 and 2009. Previous vintages should be approached with caution.
Chateau Villemaurine produces on average, slightly less than 5,000 cases of wine per year. Villemaurine also makes a second wine, Les Angelots de Villemaurine.
When to Drink Chateau Villemaurine, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Villemaurine is better with at least 4-6 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Chateau Villemaurine is best enjoyed in the first 5-20 years of life.
Young vintages can be decanted for about 1 hour to 90 minutes. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Serving Chateau Villemaurine with Wine and Food Pairings
Chateau Villemaurine is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Villemaurine is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Villemaurine is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
The Onclin family also owns Clos Larcis, which is located not far from Chateau Pavie and as you can guess, Chateau Larcis Ducasse. They also count another Bordeaux vineyard in their holdings, Chateau Branas Grand-Poujeaux, located in the Moulis appellation, which is well-placed in the Haut Medoc.
Château Villemaurine Wine Tasting Notes
15 Vintages 83,573 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
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2023
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Silky, fresh, lush, polished, and concentrated with layers of sweet, ripe, black, and red cherries, flowers, spice, and incense in the nose, and on the palate. The wine is refined, polished, long and pure, with a sweetness to the berries in the finish. The wine blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2042. 93-95 Pts. 1,141 Views Tasted May 4, 2024 |
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2022
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Flowers, red pit fruits, espresso and cocoa notes get the wine going. The wine is elegant, creamy, and fresh, with a strong underpinning sense of minerality that adds a salty touch to the vibrant red and black fruits from the mid-palate, through to the finish. The wine blends 85% Merlot with 15% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2042. 93-95 Pts. 2,403 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
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2021
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Chocolate covered cherries in the nose and on the palate make this already a pleasure to taste. The wine finishes with more of those soft, short and sweet cherries. You can enjoy this with ease on release. Drink from 2024-2030. 472 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2024Medium-bodied, soft, silky and fresh, with a core of sweet, juicy, plums, chocolate-covered cherries, spice and coffee bean. Drink from 2023-2038. 90-92 1,793 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
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2020
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Richly colored, the nose is filled with dark chocolate, licorice, smoke, black cherry, plum and herbs get the wine moving. On the palate the wine is lush, fleshy, sweet, ripe and polished, finishing with opulently textured fruits and freshness. This is the last vintage for Justin Onclin as the owner. The estate was sold earlier this year. 93-95 Pts 2,440 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
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2019
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Quite floral in nature with nuances of licorice, espresso, chocolate, black cherries and plum. The wine is rich, lush, polished and fresh, with a sensuous, velvety texture that carries through to the end note. Drink from 2024-2037. 2,244 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Bitter chocolate, plums, licorice and espresso lead the way to a supple textured, lush mouthful of ripe black plums, dark cherries, smoke, licorice and cocoa. 91-93 Pts 3,305 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
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2018
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Espresso, licorice, smoke and toast aromas come along with juicy, earthy, dark red fruits and licorice. Lush, opulent, silky and fresh, the fruit lingers, which is a good thing as the berries are perfectly ripe, showing nice purity and length. 2,583 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Lively, fresh, concentrated and filled with a parfait of dark red fruits, licorice and cocoa, the wine is plush, full-bodied, rich, ripe, round and fruity with ample crushed stone notes concurring with the fruit. 93-95 Pts 3,515 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
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2017
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
From a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine is fresh, supple, sweet, and loaded with spicy dark cocoa, licorice and plums. There is a nice complexity in the salty tannins you find in the finish,. 2,658 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
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2016
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Lush, round, medium bodied and packed with fresh, ripe red fruits, licorice, earth and mocha, the wine is forward, elegant and supple textured in the fruit filled finish. 3,421 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019With ripe, luscious, dark red fruits, freshness, licorice, black cherry and hints of cocoa and espresso, the nose isn't all that tells the story here. You also find an opulent blast of ripe, juicy, dark red fruits and licorice on the palate and in the finish. 3,360 Views Tasted Feb 11, 201980% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc produced a wine with depth, flowers, licorice, plum and spice. The wine combines sweetness, length and sensual textures. This is a real success for Villemaurine. 2,205 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
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2015
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Ready to go, this opulent, lush, wine is all about its rich core of salty, chocolate-coated black cherries, smoke, and plums with hints of spice, and licorice in the endnote. No decanting is needed here, just pop, pour, and enjoy. Drink from 2023-2032. 2,576 Views Tasted Mar 8, 2023Just a beauty with its silky, sensuous personality. With little work, the wine delivers its sweet, berries, licorice and cocoa. The smoky essence gives added nuances to the wine. You can enjoy this early, or age it for more complexity. 3,703 Views Tasted May 21, 2018With a polished, sensuous, silky style, the wine easily serves up its ripe, sweet, jammy red and dark red berries, licorice and cocoa. The smoky essence lends a nice, complex touch to the nose and palate. 3,733 Views Tasted Mar 12, 2018Ripe, jammy berries, lush, fat, rich, sweet, opulent fruits and a finish that lingers with the essence of pure black fruits and truffle. 1,972 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
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2014
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Blending 80% Merlot with 20% Cabernet Franc produced a black raspberry and licorice dominated wine, with freshness, ripe, sweet fruits and lush textures. This should be fun to drink with just a few years of bottle age. 4,373 Views Tasted Feb 5, 2017Earthy minerals, flowers, spice and plums create the perfume. On the palate, this wine is glossy and delicate with an elegant, fresh red fruit finish. 89-91 Pts 2,637 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2015 |
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2013
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
With a coffee bean, spicy red berry and stone personality, this wine is light on its feet and will be drinkable on release with its sweet cherry charm. 88-90 Pts 2,810 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2014 |
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2012
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
An attention seeking nose, with licorice, thyme, black cherries, smoke, coffee and plum notes. Soft, polished and expressive, the open style make this a wine that will show well young. 3,120 Views Tasted Mar 11, 2015The debut vintage for consultant Hubert de Bouard, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, round and supple with red cherries, licorice, coffee, spice and freshness. 90-92 Pts 3,222 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
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2011
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
The licorice, smoke and black raspberry nose is more interesting than the medium bodied, red fruit and espresso bean in the finish. There is a touch of dryness in the end note. This is an interesting wine for fans of consultants. When the wine was vinified, Stephane Derenoncourt was looking over the winemaking. When the wine was aged and finished, Hubert de Bouard of Chateau Angelus took over as consultant. 4,961 Views Tasted Feb 20, 2014The new owners spent a lot of money to upgrade their winemaking, building all new wine cellars and hired Stephane Derenoncourt for advice. Their investment continues to pay off. Smoky red berries, lush silky texture, medium body and minerality are found in this wine. 90-92 Pts 1,983 Views Tasted Apr 24, 2012 |
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2010
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Packed with oak, licorice, black raspberry, cocoa and plummy scents, the wine is fleshy, ripe, fresh, concentrated, plummy and easy to drink. Give it a few years and it should be even better. 5,807 Views Tasted May 8, 2013Villemaurine is located not far from the village of St. Emilion. Jammy berries, licorice, spice, pepper and plum scents pop from the glass. Lush and round, this concentrated, ripe wine is loaded with sweet, jammy black cherries and fennel. This is the finest wine I've ever tasted from this property. With a new owner, new consultant,( Stephane Derenoncourt) and a new label, they are off to a great start. 90-92 Pts 5,183 Views Tasted Apr 22, 2011 |
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2009
Château Villemaurine (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
2009 Villemaurine, its vineyard located not far from the village of St. Emilion, starts with minerals, spicy dark berries, and fennel. With soft textures and a medium body, the wine should offer pleasure early. 87-90 Pts 4,907 Views Tasted Jun 29, 2010 |
