2008 Château Capbern Gasqueton

Château Capbern Gasqueton was owned by the Gasqueton family for 10 generations, ending only in 2012 when the estate was sold to Suravenir Assurances, a French insurance company. The insurance company also owns Château Calon Ségur, making Capbern Gasqueton part of a prestigious Saint-Estèphe family of wine estates. The 75 vineyard acres are planted to 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. About 80,000 bottles are produced annually. The winemaker is Vincent Millet.

Saint-Estèphe is in the northern Médoc, on the left bank of the Gironde River. Although it has no First Growth estates, its five Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Growth châteaux are notable, and, in recent decades, have become favorites with reviewers and consumers. Some reviewers also note that the appellation is today making excellent Cru Bourgeois wines, which frequently offer good value. There are 3,404 acres of vineyards and a variety of soil types, from gravelly soil to soil with significant sand or clay. The two Second Growth Châteaux in St.-Estephe are Cos d’Estournel and Montrose. The Third Growth Calon-Ségur is widely admired. The principal grapes grown are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.