Château l'Escart

The story of Château l'Escart begins in 1752, when the original château was built in the heart of Saint-Loubès. This property has been in the Laurent family for generations, sitting just outside Bordeaux near the Dordogne River. The estate spans 37 hectares in a single block, planted on a clay-limestone plateau with fine gravel. This terroir is what gives the wines their character. The limestone brings freshness and length to every bottle, while the clay adds structure and density.

The vineyard has been farmed organically and biodynamically since 2005, certified by both Ecocert and Demeter. The vines average 43 years old, with some parcels reaching 50 to 60 years. This is old enough to produce grapes with real depth. The Laurent family believes great wine starts in the vineyard, so they work hard to help the vines resist disease naturally with minimal intervention.

Gérard Laurent ran the estate for many years before his son Damien joined him. Damien grew up playing among the barrels, following his grandfather through the cellar. After a career as a professional ice hockey player, he returned to the family property in 2005. He brought his wife Lorena, a Chilean winemaker trained in oenology and viticulture. Together they've revitalized the estate while respecting its heritage. Their approach is simple: produce authentic wines that express the terroir, wines you drink with your heart and mind.

The philosophy here is hands-on and respectful. Damien is on the tractor, in the tank room, selling the wines. The estate uses indigenous yeasts for fermentation and follows biodynamic principles throughout. They say it best themselves: making great wines while respecting the land they're borrowing from their children. This isn't marketing speak. You can taste it in the bottles.

Château l'Escart produces mainly red wines under the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur appellations. The vineyards are planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. The entry-level Bordeaux Supérieur shows the estate's quality baseline. Then comes Cuvée Eden, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec aged in French oak. Cuvée Omar Khayyam is the top red, named after the Persian poet, made from old vines and aged in new oak for 16 to 18 months. There's also Cuvée Agapé, Cuvée Prestige Julien, Cuvée Puits du Roy, and a white wine called Comtesse Bordeaux. The estate produces around 220,000 bottles annually, with 80 percent exported worldwide.