Chapelle de Labrie 2021

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux – Organic & Vegan Red Wine, Elm Wood Gift Box

A genuine Saint-Émilion Grand Cru from one of Bordeaux's legendary "garage wine" estates, and a rare one: in 2021 only around 200 cases were made. It comes in a solid elm wood box with a gold lining, ready to give, with no wrapping needed.

The Garage Wine Story

In the 1990s a handful of tiny Saint-Émilion estates shook up Bordeaux. With only a few hectares of vines, they made wines in such small quantities that they could almost be made in a garage, and the critics nicknamed them vins de garage. Château Croix de Labrie was one of them. It began around 1990 as a little "garden vineyard" of about two hectares, and was made famous by Michel and Ghislaine Puzio-Lesage, who also ran the wine shop in the village.

A New Chapter

In 2013 the estate passed to Axelle and Pierre Courdurié, with Axelle as winemaker. Their first vintage was so difficult that they made just four barrels. They stuck with it, built new cellars where the wine moves gently by gravity, and turned the vineyards over to organic and biodynamic farming. The estate was certified organic in 2021.

The Chapel

Chapelle de Labrie is the estate's second Grand Cru, once known simply as "Petit Labrie". It comes from vines at Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens, below the town of Saint-Émilion, where gravel and clay soils give depth and a fresh, mineral edge.

A Rare Vintage

2021 was a small and difficult year in Bordeaux. The estate made only around 200 cases of Chapelle de Labrie, instead of the usual 500, which makes this a bottle few people will have tasted.

Tasting Notes

• Grapes: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
• Nose: Ripe red fruit and cherry
• Palate: Supple and deeply fruity, with silky tannins; the Merlot brings plush softness, the Cabernet Franc a lift of freshness
• Finish: Round, fresh and elegant, with a touch of minerality
• Ageing: Lovely now and will keep for ten years or more

Food Pairing

• Roast lamb, beef or venison
• Duck breast or game birds
• Wild mushroom risotto or chestnut and lentil dishes for a vegan pairing
• Aged hard cheeses

The Gift Box

Solid elm wood with a gold lining, holding one 75cl bottle. A keepsake long after the wine is gone. Ideal for:

• Christmas and New Year
• Milestone birthdays, anniversaries and retirements
• Corporate and client gifts
• Bordeaux lovers and collectors

Wine Specification

Delivery

We deliver across the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, usually in 2 to 4 days. Free delivery on orders over £100. Every order is packed plastic-free. Ordering several boxes for clients or staff? Call 028 7962 8736 or email info@absoluteorganicwine.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a "garage wine"?
A nickname for the tiny, hand-crafted Saint-Émilion estates of the 1990s that made top wines in very small quantities. Château Croix de Labrie is one of the best known.

Is Chapelle de Labrie a Grand Cru?
Yes. It is the estate's second wine and carries the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

Why is the 2021 so rare?
2021 was a small, difficult vintage in Bordeaux, and only around 200 cases were made instead of the usual 500.

Is this wine organic and vegan?
Yes. The estate is certified organic and farms biodynamically, and the wine is vegan.

Should I drink it now or keep it?
Both. It is lovely now and will keep for ten years or more.

Do you deliver to Ireland?
Yes. We deliver across the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, usually in 2 to 4 days.