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Dubbed “a true insider’s wine producer” by Jane Anson in Inside Bordeaux, Vieux Château Saint André in Montagne-St Emilion is an estate to watch. Second-generation owner-winemaker Jeff Berrouet tells us why.

Vieux Château-Saint-André lies in the Montagne-Saint-Emilion appellation and was created in 1978 by Jean-Claude Berrouet, former winemaker at Petrus. His son has managed the estate since 2002, in addition to other properties such as Château Samion (Lalande-de-Pomerol) and another in Irouléguy.

Berrouet was recruited to be winemaker and technical director for Etablissement Jean-Pierre Moueix in 1964 where he was responsible for the production of their complete range of wines from Pomerol and St. Emilion. These estates included over a dozen properties among which were Chateaux Magdelaine, Trotanoy and Petrus. He carried out this role for 44 vintages. Berrouet retired formally from winemaking in 2007, but with the help of his son, Jean-François Berrouet, has continued to work as a technical consultant for wineries in Israel, Argentina, China and France.

JC Berrouet owns the 8 hectare Vieux Chateau St-Andre in Montagne St Emilion, which he runs with his son Jean-François. Upon his retirement, Christian Moueix said “Jean-Claude Berrouet’s contribution has not only been lengthy, but also, immeasurable. With a lifelong passion in poetry as well as wine, his philosophy has been for the wines to express their terroir, always favoring elegance over extraction.