CHAI SAINT ETIENNE

The Domaine Chai Saint Etienne is located 20 minutes South of the city of Cahors, in the South-West of France. Since 1778 the estate is in polyculture, run by generations of Gisbert and Quèbre and focused on making wine to be shared amongst good company (and preferably over long lunches). The vineyard is nestled between fields of sunflowers and fruit trees, with vines wrapping around the church of Saint Etienne- its bell tower keeping watch over the grapes.

Making the best wine possible from sustainable farming and vinification methods is primary for our family, sticking to true and tested processes from generations past, in order to create balanced and elegant AOC Coteaux du Quercy Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Côt (Malbec) red blends, as well as delicious Cab. Franc and Gamay dry rosé. We also produce Vin de Pays wines including a beautiful off-dry rosé and a rare and unique single varietal Jurançon Noir.

Saint Etienne Rouge Tradition packshot.p

Saint Etienne Jurancon Noir packshot.png

VINEYARD

Once the wines were vinified and aged under the house, today we have our cellar and new generation Benoit and Mathieu farm the vineyard sustainably helped by the geographic situation of our vineyard planted on a protected south-east facing amphitheatre. The land is still farmed in polyculture as our family believe it creates diversity impacting the vine and environment positively around it. Vines are in average 35 to 45 years old with an altitude of 250 to 300 meters and a density of 4000 vines per hectares.

Work in the vineyard is simple, like peasant, they listen, watch to farm the land carefully. Pruning is done with the moon like generation past, a grassy cover crop is left every second row to reduce vigour and encourage competition allowing lower yield. The vineyard is also worked by subsoiling aerating the earth and allowing the microorganism to develop freely. The grapes are harvested and sorted, then fallow a slow and gentle traditional fermentation.

WINES

LES VERRES EN L'AIR

5 euro

Vin De Pays Du Lot

Jurançon Noir

Les Verres en l’Air Jurançon Noir is made from semi-carbonic maceration. This is a smash-able red made from a rare grape varietal that we are proud to still be able to growth. Bright and vibrant this medium bodied red is honest and far too drinkable with its charming unique style !

ROUGE TRADITION

5 euro

AOC Coteaux du Quercy

Cabernet Franc, Côt, Merlot

Le Rouge Tradition is a bistro wine, vinified with gentle pumping over and part semi-carbonic. Lovely colour, plenty of red fruits and blackberries with hints of violet. The Merlot bring roundness and volume and make the connection with the Cabernet Franc and the Côt. This wine is like drink the South-West in a glass, conviviality and a lot of personality !

ROSÉ SEC

5 euro

AOC Coteaux du Quercy

Cabernet Franc, Gamay

The Rosé sec is made using the “saigné” method. This rosé is dry, revealing notes of stone fruit, raspberry, and strawberry with a lovely texture. Perfect for the summer or your aperitif with friends. Every year we have a strong success and never seems to make enough !

MARGUERITE
ROSE MOELLEUX

5.50 euro

Vin De Pays Du Lot

Cabernet Franc, Gamay

Fermentation is stopped so we keep some natural residual sugar in the finished wine. This delicious off-dry rosé, is balanced, not too sweet, textured and super playful. Imagine enjoying with spicy food or fruit deserts such as a pavlova !

LES TROIS PIERRES

8 euro

AOC Coteaux du Quercy

Cabernet Franc, Côt, Merlot

Les Trois Pierres is made out of our 3 best vineyards of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Côt. Traditional vinification with gentle pumping over, then aged in old French oak barrels for about 12 months. Full bodied red, showing blackcurrant, prunes, spicy notes, elegant tannins. Powerful fine wine with a Bordeaux right bank vibe !

ECCLESIA

12 euro

AOC Coteaux du Quercy

Cabernet Franc, Côt, Merlot

Ecclesia is also made out of our 3 best vineyards of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Côt. Picked a little riper, manual punching down and unoaked. Rich, pure and ripe with hips of dark fruit, full-bodied with soft texture and elegant balanced. Long lively finish. Only 1 200 bottles produced each year.

STORY

Our family knew they were on the right track as the land was cultivated for vines, finding multiple reminders of the Roman ambitions to also make wine on the site. The remnants of amphora, and of course the mosaics, continue to serve as a reminder of simple, yet effective, winemaking.

The Coteaux du Quercy AOC is one of France smallest wine region with only 290 hectares and less than 20 growers. After the Phylloxera, the Quercy, once 50 000 hectares was almost entirely destroyed. Our family and their tenacious mates started their appellation from scratch to reach the AOC status in 2011. With high draining slopes of white clay and limestone soils, Cabernet Franc was chosen to blend with the Merlot, and off course the Côt (aka. Malbec) replanted on the rocky soils.

Today the AOC Coteaux du Quercy part of the "small vineyards of the South-West France" (as they were once named by the press) have a bright future in front of them thanks to beautiful terroir and ever improving quality.