Chateau Lucia St. Emilion Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Lucia Chateau

Learn everything about Lucia St. Emilion with wine tasting notes, wine, and food pairing tips, best vintages, a history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Lucia History, Overview

The owner of Lucia, Michel Bortolussi, got his start in the Bordeaux wine business by selling equipment needed to make wine to all the top producers and winemakers in Bordeaux.

But his strongest customer base was the numerous chateaux located in the Saint Emilion appellation. Michel Bortolussi felt if so many of his customers could produce great wine, so could he. One of his top clients was the famous wine consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt. That relationship was the start of Chateau Lucia.

Before Bortolussi and Stephane Derenoncourt teamed up to create Chateau Lucia, the wine was formally sold under the name of Chateau Lucie before Michel Bortolussi changed the name to Lucia. The first vintage for Lucia was made in 2001. In 2012, Chateau Lucia was sold to Enzo Ide, a Belgian businessman.

Enzo Ide has retained the same technical team for their Right Bank vineyards and with the winemaking. Enzo Ide also owns another vineyard, Chateau La Rousselle in the Fronsac appellation.

Lucia Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 4.3 hectare St. Emilion vineyard of Chateau Lucia is planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet franc. At Lucia, they have some of the oldest vines in Bordeaux. In fact, some of the vines date all the way back to 1901.

They also have 2 other sections of the vineyard with vines that are on average 30 years of age.

The younger vines are situated close to Chateau Monbousquet. Those vines are planted in more of the sandy terroir with some clay in the soils. Overall, the vineyard has a terroir of clay and limestone soils. The vines are planted to a vine density of 5,500 vines per hectare.

There is a lot of labor-intensive work that takes place at Chateau Lucia. To produce the wine of Chateau Lucia, after the berries are harvested by hand, the fruit is sorted twice before fermentation. The grapes are whole berry fermented in small open-top, oak tanks that range in size from 30 to 50 hectoliters.

Everything in the small cellars is moved by gravity. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels. The wine is aged on its lees in an average of 60% new, French oak barrels for between 12 to 18 months, depending on the character and quality of the vintage.

The best vintages of Chateau Lucia are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

The production of Lucia is small, as close to 1,250 cases of wine are produced here in every vintage.

When to Drink Lucia, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Lucia needs some time before it can be enjoyed. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Lucia is usually better with at least 4-5 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Lucia offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 4-15 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Lucia with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Lucia is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Lucia is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Lucia is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Lucia is a modern-styled, forward, opulent, Bordeaux wine that is ripe, rich, and filled with licorice, black raspberries, and chocolate. It’s a wine that is a lot of fun to taste and it drinks well early.

Château Lucia Wine Tasting Notes

15 Vintages 40,935 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
92
Incense, spice, smoke, cocoa, licorice ,and red pit fruits are found in the nose, and on the palate. The medium-bodied wine is soft, supple, and creamy with ripe, black cherries, espresso, and licorice on the mid-palate and in the lush finish. The wine is a blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, 14% ABV. Drink from 2025-2037. 91-93 Pts.

Incense, spice, smoke, cocoa, licorice ,and red pit fruits are found in the nose, and on the palate. The medium-bodied wine is soft, supple, and creamy with ripe, black cherries, espresso, and licorice on the mid-palate and in the lush finish. The wine is a blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, 14% ABV. Drink from 2025-2037. 91-93 Pts.

1,803 Views   Tasted
2021
90
Licorice, smoke and cocoa along with ripe black cherries, espresso and plums on the nose and palate here. The wine is sweet, fruity, round and polished, Drink from 2023-2036. 89-91

Licorice, smoke and cocoa along with ripe black cherries, espresso and plums on the nose and palate here. The wine is sweet, fruity, round and polished, Drink from 2023-2036. 89-91

1,439 Views   Tasted
2020
92
Licorice, black cherries, chocolate and espresso express their notes with ease. Full-bodied, rich, ripe and round, but also fresh and vibrant, with a luscious, supple textured, fruit-packed, chocolate mint and dark, pit fruit filled finish. Drink from 2024-2040.

Licorice, black cherries, chocolate and espresso express their notes with ease. Full-bodied, rich, ripe and round, but also fresh and vibrant, with a luscious, supple textured, fruit-packed, chocolate mint and dark, pit fruit filled finish. Drink from 2024-2040.

891 Views   Tasted
Dark in color, you find chocolate mint, fruit cake, plums and cherries galore in the nose. On the palate the wine is round, lush, polished, sweet and fruity, with an opulently textured, chocolate and cappuccino drenched finish. 91-93 Pts

Dark in color, you find chocolate mint, fruit cake, plums and cherries galore in the nose. On the palate the wine is round, lush, polished, sweet and fruity, with an opulently textured, chocolate and cappuccino drenched finish. 91-93 Pts

1,660 Views   Tasted
2019
92
Dark, round, opulent, forward, lush and rich, this is all about the wealthy of ripe sweet, fruits, licorice and opulent, in your face textures that make this such a hit. 91-93 Pts

Dark, round, opulent, forward, lush and rich, this is all about the wealthy of ripe sweet, fruits, licorice and opulent, in your face textures that make this such a hit. 91-93 Pts

2,116 Views   Tasted
2018
91
Opulent, lush, sweet and fruity with ample cocoa, licorice and chocolate covered plums on the palate and in the finish to round things out. You should be able to enjoy this on release, or with just a modicum of cellar time.

Opulent, lush, sweet and fruity with ample cocoa, licorice and chocolate covered plums on the palate and in the finish to round things out. You should be able to enjoy this on release, or with just a modicum of cellar time.

820 Views   Tasted
Forward, round, ripe, dark in color and loaded with licorice, espresso, smoke, cocoa and dark plums, this modern-styled wine will be ready to drink on release. 90-92 Pts

Forward, round, ripe, dark in color and loaded with licorice, espresso, smoke, cocoa and dark plums, this modern-styled wine will be ready to drink on release. 90-92 Pts

1,364 Views   Tasted
2017
90
Round, lush and open, the wine is all about its ripe, sweet, forward, soft ripe, black cherries, chocolate, espresso and licorice. If you like them young, this is a wine you can enjoy in its adolescence.

Round, lush and open, the wine is all about its ripe, sweet, forward, soft ripe, black cherries, chocolate, espresso and licorice. If you like them young, this is a wine you can enjoy in its adolescence.

1,372 Views   Tasted
2016
92
Round, juicy, sweet, luscious plums, cherries, licorice and espresso notes are all over the place. Plushly textured, you can drink this early in life, or age it for 3-5 years and drink it over the subsequent decade.

Round, juicy, sweet, luscious plums, cherries, licorice and espresso notes are all over the place. Plushly textured, you can drink this early in life, or age it for 3-5 years and drink it over the subsequent decade.

1,825 Views   Tasted
Opulent, dense, plump, juicy and hedonistic, this wine is sweet, fleshy, flashy and all smoking jacket and gold Rolex, leaving you with an afterglow of chocolate-covered cherries, espresso and licorice. Modern in style -- if that's your thing, you're going to love it.

Opulent, dense, plump, juicy and hedonistic, this wine is sweet, fleshy, flashy and all smoking jacket and gold Rolex, leaving you with an afterglow of chocolate-covered cherries, espresso and licorice. Modern in style -- if that's your thing, you're going to love it.

1,305 Views   Tasted
2015
92
Ripe, lush, fat, rich, black cherry liqueur notes paired with licorice, cocoa and cassis, this wine has supple textures and sweet, vanilla-tinged, black fruits in a low acid, modern style.

Ripe, lush, fat, rich, black cherry liqueur notes paired with licorice, cocoa and cassis, this wine has supple textures and sweet, vanilla-tinged, black fruits in a low acid, modern style.

1,913 Views   Tasted
2014
89
Forward, ripe, round and soft with a licorice, black cherry and espresso-filled personality, this wine is easy to enjoy. 88-89 Pts

Forward, ripe, round and soft with a licorice, black cherry and espresso-filled personality, this wine is easy to enjoy. 88-89 Pts

1,690 Views   Tasted
2013
88
Licorice, coffee bean, kirsch liqueur and pepper on the nose open to a flowery, spicy, red berry palate with a definite oaky presence in the finish. The wine reached 13% ABV and will be aged in 50% new, French oak. 87-89 Pts

Licorice, coffee bean, kirsch liqueur and pepper on the nose open to a flowery, spicy, red berry palate with a definite oaky presence in the finish. The wine reached 13% ABV and will be aged in 50% new, French oak. 87-89 Pts

1,895 Views   Tasted
2012
89
From a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine opens with licorice, black cherry and earth. Medium-bodied, soft and forward in style, the wine ends with black cherry and fennel notes. 88-90 Pts

From a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine opens with licorice, black cherry and earth. Medium-bodied, soft and forward in style, the wine ends with black cherry and fennel notes. 88-90 Pts

1,835 Views   Tasted
2011
90
From a 3.06-hectare vineyard, part of which was planted in 1901, the wine is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. With mineral and fresh, ripe berry flavors, the wine offers licorice and polished textures. 90-91 Pts

From a 3.06-hectare vineyard, part of which was planted in 1901, the wine is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. With mineral and fresh, ripe berry flavors, the wine offers licorice and polished textures. 90-91 Pts

2,663 Views   Tasted
2010
92
Lucia comes from a 3.06-hectare vineyard, part of which was planted in 1901 to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The wine expresses licorice, black cherry and spice aromas. Plushly textured and filled with ripe jammy berries, with its open style, this wine should be fun to drink shortly after release. 91-93 Pts

Lucia comes from a 3.06-hectare vineyard, part of which was planted in 1901 to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The wine expresses licorice, black cherry and spice aromas. Plushly textured and filled with ripe jammy berries, with its open style, this wine should be fun to drink shortly after release. 91-93 Pts

7,043 Views   Tasted
2009
90
2009 Lucia comes from a 3.06-hectare vineyard, part of it planted in 1901. The soils are clay and limestone. The vineyard yielded only 25 hls/ha. The wine is 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc . With its dark fruit, licorice, and mineral driven personality, Lucia finishes with fleshy dark cherries and anise. 89-91 Pts

2009 Lucia comes from a 3.06-hectare vineyard, part of it planted in 1901. The soils are clay and limestone. The vineyard yielded only 25 hls/ha. The wine is 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc . With its dark fruit, licorice, and mineral driven personality, Lucia finishes with fleshy dark cherries and anise. 89-91 Pts

5,336 Views   Tasted
2005
93
Rich, ripe, fleshy, flashy and filled with ripe, dark berries, blue fruit, spice and licorice. Concentrated and opulent in the mouth, this sext wine will be a lot of fun to drink. B ut not much is made, so it will become hard to find.

Rich, ripe, fleshy, flashy and filled with ripe, dark berries, blue fruit, spice and licorice. Concentrated and opulent in the mouth, this sext wine will be a lot of fun to drink. B ut not much is made, so it will become hard to find.

3,965 Views   Tasted