Why it matters
The producer
Château de Seguin is a brand of Vignobles Mottet producing Bordeaux Supérieur and Crémant de Bordeaux. Its red range includes the standard Château de Seguin, Château de Seguin Prestige, Cuvée Carpe Diem and a Malbec cuvée. The standard wine uses Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, while Prestige is predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and is aged in oak barrels following Bordeaux Grand Cru tradition.
Count of Seguin enters the estate's history in 780, when he served as an administrator under Emperor Charlemagne. The name now belongs to Château de Seguin, a brand of Vignobles Mottet. The present portfolio carries it across Bordeaux Supérieur and Crémant de Bordeaux, with standard, Prestige, Cuvée Carpe Diem and Malbec cuvées.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Entre Deux Mers is the named setting for Château de Seguin's clay limestone terroir. The estate's vines produce two appellation categories: Bordeaux Supérieur for the red wines and Crémant de Bordeaux for sparkling wine. The label language therefore spans a still red category and a sparkling category, while the red cuvées share the Château de Seguin name.
Clay limestone soils form a mosaic typical of Entre Deux Mers. Clay can retain water, while limestone can help drainage and bring a firmer line to red wine. The combination gives the vines both moisture holding ground and free draining mineral ground beneath the estate's Bordeaux varieties.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Approximately 95 hectares of vines make up the planted area. The vinification cellars use forty temperature controlled stainless steel vats for individual parcel vinification, allowing separate parcels to ferment in separate vessels. Ageing takes place in four cellars that can hold up to 1,200 barrels. French oak barrel ageing lasts 12 months. Oak barrels allow slow oxygen exchange and can add spice, roundness and softer tannin as red wine matures.
Wines to know
The range in view
The portfolio includes a standard Bordeaux Supérieur, Château de Seguin Prestige, Cuvée Carpe Diem and a Malbec cuvée. The standard is the smooth, crisp and intensely fruity expression. Prestige is the Bordeaux Supérieur cuvée aged in oak barrels and made predominantly from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cuvée Carpe Diem is presented as a premium cuvée, with stated ageing potential of 6 to 10 years. The Malbec cuvée adds a separate grape focus to the range.
The standard Château de Seguin shows deep ruby red colour with purple hues. Red and black fruit rise with slight spice, followed by a full mouth with integrated tannins and a fruity aftertaste. Prestige brings black fruit, cocoa and roasted notes into an ample, generous palate, with integrated tannins. Cuvée Carpe Diem is crimson almost black with intense purple tints. Its nose brings black fruit, spice and coffee, while the palate is round and full bodied with rich tannins and a long aftertaste.