Chateau Chauvin Folie de Chauvin Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2020 / 13.5% / 0.75 L

It comes from an estate that literally stands “at the crossroads of two worlds”—on the northwestern edge of Saint-Émilion, overlooking neighboring Pomerol.Château Chauvin is a 15-hectare vineyard with a mosaic of sandy-clay soils enriched with iron-rich subsoil, which helps the vines ripen faster and produce juicy, fruit-forward clusters.The estate's history dates back to 1852, when the former vast Corbin estate was divided into smaller properties; one of them—Chauvin—was purchased by Jean Fourcaud-Laussac, the same man who also bought what later became Château Cheval Blanc.In 1891, Victor Ondet took over the estate and, in keeping with nineteenth-century fashion, turned it into his “folie”—a country retreat with a vineyard whose wines were already renowned at the time.In the first Saint-Émilion classification of 1954, Chauvin was among the estates that received recognition—a status that was subsequently reaffirmed in subsequent reviews.In 2014, a new chapter began: Sylvie Cazes and her children purchased Château Chauvin, launching an extensive program to renovate the vineyards and cellars and working to express the terroir with even greater precision.Since then, the style of Chauvin wines has consistently moved toward elegance, finesse, and a balance between ripe fruit and freshness.

This place also boasts beautiful iconography: while going through the archives, the owners found a label from 1929 and used it as the foundation for a new visual identity.Starting with the 2014 vintage, the label features Cupid riding a lion—on one hand, the god of love; on the other, the heraldic lion from the Saint-Émilion coat of arms.This is a discreet yet telling confession of “chauvinism” in its original, French sense: pride in one’s own country.

Folie de Chauvin—“Crazy” Chauvin—is the estate’s second wine, made from younger vines that are tended and vinified with the same care as the estate’s flagship wine.The 2020 Folie vintage is made from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.It was aged for 12–16 months in French barriques that had been used for one year, which highlighted the fruit's richness without overwhelming it with oak.Sandy-clay soils with a ferruginous subsoil and a single, compact vineyard block are conducive to selective cultivation and very good phenolic ripeness.In 2020, approximately 20,000 bottles of this brand were produced.

The 2020 vintage in Saint-Émilion produced wines with generous black fruit and supple, fine-grained tannins—Folie de Chauvin fits perfectly into this profile.Critics have described this vintage as lush, with notes of blackberry, chocolate, and nuts, polished tannins, and a freshness that lifts the composition and adds vigor.It’s a red wine that’s already a delight to drink today, yet retains enough structure to age beautifully over the next few years.

Appearance: deep ruby red with a purple sheen at the rim; clear, dense tears on the glass wall, hinting at juiciness and moderate extraction.

Aroma: first, ripe black currant and blackberry, followed shortly by plum and black cherry; the background features cocoa nibs, crushed walnuts, and a subtle coffee note, complemented by violet and a light mineral accent reminiscent of wet stone.

Taste: medium- to full-bodied, very juicy, with black fruit wrapped in velvety, fine tannins; fresh acidity that maintains tension, a long, clean finish with a returning note of chocolate and nuts and a delicate saltiness.It’s smooth and elegant to drink right now, and the next 5–7 years will bring even more smoothness and complexity.

Food pairings: perfect with veal tenderloin served with demi-glace sauce and roasted porcini mushrooms, with duck confit on Du Puy lentils, beef tenderloin with Kampocki pepper, or with simpler dishes: roasted chicken with truffle purée, a burger with aged cheddar, or baked eggplant with goat cheese.Comté aged 18–24 months is the best choice for a cheese platter., Tomme de Savoie, aged Cantal; for a lighter option—cured meats and pâtés.