There’s good reason Saint-Émilion, situated in the heart of Bordeaux wine country, produces the world’s finest pours: the terroir. Here, conditions sprout grapes unlike anywhere else, and winemakers walk in fields of gold. Domaine Clarence Dillion acquired a slice of this treasure in 2011, bringing a four-generation wealth of expertise to what is now the Château Quintus estate. Visiting the property, we sat down with the vineyard’s Manager Mariette Veyssière to discuss the Château Quintus experience.

Interview with Mariette Veyssière of Château Quintus 

Chateau Quintus Domaine Clarence Dillion

Since 2011, Château Quintus has acquired three neighbouring properties that make up the current wine estate. Can you tell us the reasons for their selection?

The three properties that make up Quintus today were selected for their terroir, which is primarily a hillside and clay-limestone plateau. It’s the best location in Saint-Émilion to make great wines. The three estates, gathered together to form Château Quintus, figure among the oldest and most reputed growths of the region. 

All three were historically mentioned as “Premier Cru de Saint-Émilion” in the Féret Wine Guide, published between 1908 and 1949. Their potential is indisputable; all that remained was to restore them to their former glory.

You mention the terroir. How does this affect the profile of wine, and how widely does this differ between the three properties?

The magic of a wine lies in finding the perfect alchemy between different terroirs, orientations, and micro-climates. At Quintus, we’re one of the few estates in Saint-Émilion to have such a broad palette.

To the south, a ventilated, clay-limestone terroir with 360°view or orientation, complemented to the north by the plateau on limestone bedrock. These two terroirs produce very different types of wine, more opulent in the south and more mineral in the north (which has been purchased in 2021).

Chateau Quintus Domaine Clarence Dillion

We notice your teams out in the field tending to the vines with such precision. Would you say the field care is as important as the wine-making process itself?

Precision is omnipresent at Quintus, from the start of pruning, to vegetative operations, until bottling. It all starts in the vineyard, and getting the grapes just perfect is the basis for making great wines.

Today, our ambition is to produce one of Saint-Émilion’s finest wines.

What are the challenges you face in times of climate change, and how are these overcome?

The challenges posed by climate change are very real for us today because we are above all subject to the climate and its variations on a daily basis. Today, we’re seeing very marked variations between vintages: we can go from a very sunny vintage like 2022 to a sub-tropical in 2023.

We need to constantly adapt our viticultural practices, and have a very substantial capacity to react, as well as human resources. In the longer term, we are thinking about the evolution of our grape varieties according to the plot orientations. It is highly likely that we will increase the proportion of Cabernet Franc in our next replanting programs.

Chateau Quintus Domaine Clarence Dillion Dragon

The estate is such a draw for wine tourism. What can guests partake in when they visit Château Quintus in person?

Quintus is a true haven of peace, rejuvenating, and integrated into a verdant setting where biodiversity is extremely well preserved. Throughout the visit, our guests can immerse themselves in the process of making great wines. At the end of the tour, we offer tastings of our first and second wines for select vintages.

Saint-Émilion is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What do you think captures visitors the most about the region?

The Saint-Émilion region is incredible (I was born here, of course!) It’s an extremely well-preserved, hilly region, with low walls, natural areas, wooded areas, and rows of trees. It’s a region that combines both historical and cultural heritage. It’s an inspiring and authentic region!

Chateau Quintus Domaine Clarence Dillion

Le Clarence is easily one of the best restaurants we’ve ever dined in. How did the restaurant and the estate work together to curate its wine list?

Le Clarence is a magical place, like a jewel box. It is the link between haute cuisine and wine. It’s a Parisian immersion in the atmosphere of our Quintus, La Mission Haut-Brion, and Haut-Brion estates. It’s our pleasure to introduce you to our wines through audacious pairings, but that’s not all!

A wide range of Quintus vintages is available at Le Clarence. Le Clarence’s sommelier teams regularly come to our vineyards to rediscover our wines through beautiful verticals. Immersion is essential and tasting is emotion.

In looking to the future, what is the hope for Château Quintus over, say, the next decade?

Quintus aims to become one of Saint-Émilion’s icons, renowned for the quality of its wines. New large-scale projects are expected to further strengthen the appeal of Quintus. Quintus Maximus!

Chateau Quintus Domaine Clarence Dillion

And finally, of all your vintages, which is the most memorable?

Today, the 2022 vintage is considered Quintus’ best of the century! Incredible dimension on the palate, yet fine, racy, and elegant. An explosion from the attack to the finish. The plots on the northern plateau resulting from the 2021 purchase bring us more intensity and length. A veritable vintage with identity and emotion.

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