Château Rocheyron

CHÂTEAU ROCHEYRON FROM PETER SISSECK 2018 VINTAGE EN PRIMEUR EXCLUSIVE TO CORNEY & BARROW IN THE UK AND HONG KONG

CHATEAU ROCHEYRON FROM PETER SISSECK |

2018 VINTAGE

“…it is Sisseck's touch you feel all over this wine. Inky depths to the colour and clear concentration of the crushed raspberry and mirabelle plum fruits are for starters: things really take off through the palate.

This is a whole different ball game ...”

Jane Anson, Decanter, April 2019 (Château Rocheyron was listed as one of the top Bordeaux wines for the 2018 vintage)

To find out more about Corney & Barrow visit www.corneyandbarrow.com

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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780

CHATEAU ROCHEYRON FROM PETER SISSECK |

2018 VINTAGE

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PETER SISSECK & CHÂTEAU ROCHEYRON

On the 13th March, well before the annual Bordeaux en primeur bootcamp, the team at Thomas More Street was treated to an extraordinary masterclass – a vertical tasting of Château Rocheyron, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru – hosted by the true maître, Peter Sisseck himself.

To find out more about Corney & Barrow visit www.corneyandbarrow.com

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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780

Château Rocheyron

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Peter Sisseck’s journey is well-known to many but for newcomers, it is a fabulous, almost incredible story of a young Danish boy’s rather far-fetched dream to become a winemaker not only being realised but fulfilled to an unimaginable degree.

As is so often the case our involvement began through a long respected relationship, in this case Peter’s uncle, Peter Vinding-Diers, a great friend of Corney & Barrow, then based in Bordeaux. By chance we had stumbled across this astonishingly passionate, talented young man and, on tasting his wine.

Inspired by Uncle Peter, our Peter, nicknamed Pingus - to be differentiated from Peter Vinding - studied in Bordeaux. At a crossroads post studying, Uncle Peter directed him towards Spain where, albeit an unlikely scenario, he built his considerable reputation and ultimately made his home.

Yet Bordeaux continued to pull at his heart strings.

Corney & Barrow’s passionate commitment to the wines of the Right Bank is well-documented as well as very deliberate. Exclusivity underpins our buying strategy and the size of the properties here are perfect for us. We were therefore delighted when our friend Peter Sisseck

returned to the region where he learned his craft – even more so when we had the opportunity to take on the exciting opportunity this wine presents!

Château Rocheyron is a lovely property, beautifully sited in the hamlet of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, just 3.6km from the centre of Saint-Émilion, on the edge of the celebrated limestone plateau. Peter Sisseck, known to customers through his iconic Dominio de Pingus from Ribera del Duero in Spain, is in many respects returning to his spiritual home here.

Danish by birth, Bordeaux graduate, Peter has, with Rocheyron, an unique opportunity, forging a partnership which allows him to develop a longstanding love for Bordeaux whilst being able to remain, and indeed develop, his work in Spain.

Peter’s ambitions, along with his friend and partner in this project, Silvio Denz, are set on creating (or re-creating) a new norm. He would like a return, in a sense, to the past but with all of the advantages of contemporary winemaking knowledge. He wants the wine to be as natural as possible and relishes in the advanced age of the vines, despite their yield-limiting properties.

CHATEAU ROCHEYRON FROM PETER SISSECK |

2018 VINTAGE

THE VINEYARD The vineyard comprises two main plots of land – albeit there are subplots within - planted with very old vines, lying alongside Château Laroque.

The estate spans 8 hectares in total. One plot, lying towards Castillon is planted on very true limestone, the better soil but planted with younger vines. The other plot is on more fractured limestone but the wines are very old. In 2018, around 75% is from the limestone plateau, 25% from La Boutisse (older vines and less noble soil).

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There are five hectares of Merlot and the rest is very old Cabernet Franc. The vines are planted at a density of 6,000 vines per hectare and have an average age of 45 years, some vines being over 80. The soil consists of half a metre of topsoil over limestone rock. Farmed organically, Peter intends to move towards biodynamic disciplines, which is how he works in Spain. A firm believer that wine is made in the vineyard, he is working towards organic certification.

The viticulture is run, in Peter’s own words, “like a First Growth”, Peter being supported by a great team.

His clear goal is to extract the very best from this exceptional terroir, requiring meticulous attention to detail, rigorous vineyard management and ruthless selection. Yields are very low.

Peter Sisseck

To find out more about Corney & Barrow visit www.corneyandbarrow.com

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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780

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Château Rocheyron

CHATEAU ROCHEYRON FROM PETER SISSECK |

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“2018 is, like 2016, a direct consequence of the work we have been doing since 2014 – improving the vineyard through ploughing and biodynamics. The 2018 vintage shows Bordeaux at its best: classic in style, very pure and transparent. It may easily be the best wine we have made so far…”

PETER SISSECK June 2019

2018 VINTAGE

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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780

THE CELLAR

The renovated cellar at Château Rocheyron is pristine, efficient and functional. Peter has invested in new cement tanks – an ideal medium which is enjoying something of a renaissance. Peter sees his role here as a facilitator, his main responsibilities having been discharged in the vineyard.

Increasingly anxious about the emergence of a modern Bordeaux style, he is concerned that Bordeaux character is too often being lost and wines are produced which might come from anywhere.

His ambition for Rocheyron is to produce a classic, traditional style. The size of the property allows for single parcels to be vinified separately as are vines of different ages. Three passages through the vineyard are required to harvest young Merlot, old Merlot and finally Cabernet Franc, all then kept apart. Only the very best cuvées make it into Château Rocheyron and thus the integrity of the grand vin can be protected. The must and the emerging wine is treated with the greatest respect, nothing is added and operations such as pumping over are excluded or kept to a minimum. Peter goes for a moderate temperature of 22°C during fermentation, to ensure gentle extraction. He has also now moved over from his passion for new oak, which was a hallmark of his early wines in Spain – not least because it jars with his deeply held philosophy on sustainability. The 2018 is being aged in 30% new oak for up to 16 months.

The wine will be bottled without filtration. It is interesting to read Peter’s unique slant on the vintage as he witnessed similarities between two such far-flung sites, Ribeira and Saint-Émilion.

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CHATEAU ROCHEYRON FROM PETER SISSECK |

2018 VINTAGE

2018 VINTAGE NOTES 2018 was really interesting for Peter, because the vintage conditions were very much alike in Bordeaux and Ribera del Duero. “It was a year very much aided by the heavy rain we had during the previous winter.”

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To find out more about Corney & Barrow visit www.corneyandbarrow.com

In Spain it was very welcome as the two previous years had been very dry. In Saint-Émilion, it offered more of a challenge, introducing significant mildew pressure but tremendous efforts by Peter’s team, with rigorous attention to detail, saved the day. Thankfully, having averted any significant problems Rocheyron proceeded uneventfully into July, during which weather conditions improved.

The remainder of the growing season was then relatively smooth sailing. It was possible to harvest early in both Spain and Saint-Émilion…an important factor if overripeness and over-extraction were to be avoided.

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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780

There was record breaking rain in the spring of 2018 so that organic growers had challenges with mildew. Mildew during flowering then reduced yields dramatically. In the scheme of things, consultants feel that Château Rocheyron has been doing rather well in the organic sense, producing 28hl/ha as against reports of as little 9 hl/ha elsewhere. They did, in fact, have 51 attacks of mildew but they treated every 4 to 5 days. Others could not do that. There then came heat and dry weather and the vines at Rocheyron were able to benefit from good water reserves, due to that limestone base.

ALISON BUCHANAN June 2019

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“2018 is a very beautiful vintage with a lovely freshness, if done right . Super fine tannins and a vintage able to evolve along the lines of all the great classical vintages , 1989 comes to mind ..close to the ideal ….more 2016 than 2015.”

PETER SISSECK June 2019

CHATEAU ROCHEYRON FROM PETER SISSECK |

2018 TASTING NOTES

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Tasting Guide Our tasting notes provide full details but, at your request, we have also introduced a clear and simple marking system. We hope these guidelines assist you in your selection.

For the benefit of simplicity, wines are scored out of 20. We will often use a range of scores (e.g. 16.5 to 17) to indicate the potential to achieve a higher mark.

When a ‘+’ is shown it adds further to that potential.

Wines from lesser vintages will, inevitably, show a lower overall score.

Wines are judged, in a very broad sense, against their peers. Why? Well, you cannot easily compare a Ford with an Aston Martin, other than they are both cars and have wheels. It is not that different with wine.

A score is a summary only. The devil is in the detail, so please focus on the tasting notes and, as always, speak to our sales team.

2018 VINTAGE

To find out more about Corney & Barrow visit www.corneyandbarrow.com

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INDEPENDENT WINE MERCHANT SINCE 1780

CHÂTEAU ROCHEYRON Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

A luscious, textured plum in colour, this presents a rather lovely nose of red and black fruit, cherries and berries and hints of kirsch. Here 15% Cabernet Franc lifts the aromatics, adding herbal notes, pepper and delicate spice – all beautifully ripe and well-integrated.

The palate is, as ever, seamless, refreshed by floral notes, violets and minerals. Tannins are rounded and ripe, adding to the sensuality of the palate. Mocha cream complements a languid, elegant, layered finish.

Corney & Barrow Score 18+ Recommended drinking from 2023 - 2033+ £435/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES £150/CASE OF 1 MAGNUM £305/CASE OF 1 DOUBLE MAGNUM £615/CASE OF 1 IMPERIAL All prices are quoted in bond UK

To Order LONDON

020 7265 2430 EAST ANGLIA

01638 600 000 NORTH OF ENGLAND

01748 828 640 EDINBURGH

01875 321 921 HONG KONG

+852 3694 3333 EMAIL

sales@corneyandbarrow.com PLEASE NOTE These wines are released en primeur. Delivery dates to be confirmed. All prices are quoted in bond UK.

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CHATEAU ROCHEYRON FROM PETER SISSECK |

2018 VINTAGE

CONTACT US We have offices in England, Scotland and Hong Kong.

Please see below for details

Our Locations

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LONDON 1 Thomas More Street London E1W 1YZ T +44 (0)20 7265 2400 sales@corneyandbarrow.com

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