Chateau La Serre St. Emilion Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau La Serre St. Emilion, Bordeaux with wine tasting notes, and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, the 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

Chateau La Serre History, Overview

Chateau La Serre is located just outside the village of Saint Emilion. It is situated exactly across the street from Chateau La Couspaude. Chateau La Serre takes its name from its south-facing position, as La Serre can be translated to, greenhouse, which the vineyards receive, due to its sunny exposure.

The chateau was constructed towards the end of the 17th century. During the late 1800s, the property was purchased by Albert Macquin, who also owned the neighboring Chateau Pavie Macquin. Chateau La Serre was purchased in the 1950s by the d’Arfeuille family, which also owned Chateau La Pointe in Pomerol at the time.

The d’Arfeuille family continues to own and manage the estate today. Although, winemaking, vineyard management, and marketing are handled by Ets. Moueix. In 2003 the cellars and vat rooms of Chateau La Serre were modernized. They removed their stainless steel tanks and moved to new, concrete fermentation vats.

Chateau La Serre Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 7-hectare vineyard of Chateau La Serre is planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard is planted in 1 large block of vines. The vineyard has been going through slow and steady replanting. The terroir is chalk, clay, and sand soils. The vines in their best terroir are not that far from Chateau Pavie Macquin, Chateau Villemaurine, and Chateau Trotte Vieille. The average vine age in their Saint Emilion vineyard is 35 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 6,000 vines per hectare.

To produce the wine of Chateau La Serre, vinification takes place in traditional concrete vats. This Right Bank wine is aged for an average of 16 months in 50% new, French oak barrels. On average, 2,000 cases of Chateau La Serre are produced each year.

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

There is a second wine, Les Menuts de La Serre. However, the second wine is only produced in select vintages.

When to Drink Chateau La Serre, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau La Serre 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. Chateau La Serre is usually better with at least 4-6 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Mangot offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 4-12 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau La Serre with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau La Serre is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau La Serre is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau La Serre is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

www.chateaulaserre.com

Château La Serre Wine Tasting Notes

16 Vintages 50,267 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
93
Rich, deep, long, and creamy, the wine is all about its layers of deep, dark, lush fruits on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2025-2042. 92-94 Pts.

Rich, deep, long, and creamy, the wine is all about its layers of deep, dark, lush fruits on the palate and in the finish. Drink from 2025-2042. 92-94 Pts.

1,686 Views   Tasted
2021
92
Silky, soft and fresh, with a gorgeous polish to the dark red fruits which are made even more interesting by all of its floral accents. There is sweetness to the fruit, soft, silky tannins and freshness in the finish. I like the spicy, cocoa note that comes through on the backend. Drink from 2023-2038. 91-93

Silky, soft and fresh, with a gorgeous polish to the dark red fruits which are made even more interesting by all of its floral accents. There is sweetness to the fruit, soft, silky tannins and freshness in the finish. I like the spicy, cocoa note that comes through on the backend. Drink from 2023-2038. 91-93

1,240 Views   Tasted
2020
93
Medium/full-bodied, fresh, soft and silky, the wine requires just a little effort to entice all of its black cherries, plums, chocolate, espresso and licorice to come to the front of the perfume. Vibrant, with ample, sweet, ripe, lush fruits with a dose of salt that adds to the wines character. Polished lively and long, with sweetness and purity to the fruits that linger, this is the best vintage of La Serre I have ever tasted. Drink from 2024-2045.

Medium/full-bodied, fresh, soft and silky, the wine requires just a little effort to entice all of its black cherries, plums, chocolate, espresso and licorice to come to the front of the perfume. Vibrant, with ample, sweet, ripe, lush fruits with a dose of salt that adds to the wines character. Polished lively and long, with sweetness and purity to the fruits that linger, this is the best vintage of La Serre I have ever tasted. Drink from 2024-2045.

886 Views   Tasted
Full-bodied, silky, fresh and packed with chocolate, black and red plums, licorice, oak and crushed rocks, there is serious vibrancy and depth of flavor here. Polished lively and long, with sweetness and purity to the fruits that linger, this is the best vintage of La Serre I have ever tasted. 93-95 Pts

Full-bodied, silky, fresh and packed with chocolate, black and red plums, licorice, oak and crushed rocks, there is serious vibrancy and depth of flavor here. Polished lively and long, with sweetness and purity to the fruits that linger, this is the best vintage of La Serre I have ever tasted. 93-95 Pts

1,687 Views   Tasted
2019
93
Better from the bottle than from the barrel, the wine is packed with flowers, cherries, tobacco leaf, licorice and cocoa. On the palate, the lushly textured, plush, polished wine offers a layered mouthful of chocolate covered plums, licorice and smoke that really stays with you. This is the best vintage of La Serre I have ever tasted. You can enjoy it in its fruit-filled youth, or age it for 15 or more years. Drink from 2024-2037.

Better from the bottle than from the barrel, the wine is packed with flowers, cherries, tobacco leaf, licorice and cocoa. On the palate, the lushly textured, plush, polished wine offers a layered mouthful of chocolate covered plums, licorice and smoke that really stays with you. This is the best vintage of La Serre I have ever tasted. You can enjoy it in its fruit-filled youth, or age it for 15 or more years. Drink from 2024-2037.

1,476 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, soft, approachable and with a juicy, fresh, plummy core of berries and herbs, this will drink best in its youth. 89-91 Pts

Medium-bodied, soft, approachable and with a juicy, fresh, plummy core of berries and herbs, this will drink best in its youth. 89-91 Pts

2,521 Views   Tasted
2018
91
Fresh, fruity and fun to taste, the wine has more richness than experienced in previous vintages. Now, you find layers of sweet plum, cherry, licorice, spice and earthy nuances. Give this just a few years in the cellar and enjoy it over the following 2 decades.

Fresh, fruity and fun to taste, the wine has more richness than experienced in previous vintages. Now, you find layers of sweet plum, cherry, licorice, spice and earthy nuances. Give this just a few years in the cellar and enjoy it over the following 2 decades.

1,417 Views   Tasted
Rich, fat and juicy with more fruit and substance than I have ever seen here, the wine is fleshy, fresh, fruity and fun to drink. 90-92 Pts

Rich, fat and juicy with more fruit and substance than I have ever seen here, the wine is fleshy, fresh, fruity and fun to drink. 90-92 Pts

2,127 Views   Tasted
2017
88
Fruity in a classic sense, the wine is sharp, ripe, medium bodied and mineral driven. Give it a few years to come together and it should be a nicely enhanced wine.

Fruity in a classic sense, the wine is sharp, ripe, medium bodied and mineral driven. Give it a few years to come together and it should be a nicely enhanced wine.

1,866 Views   Tasted
2016
90
Medium bodied, bright and with loads of sweet cherries and licorice on the palate, the wine is juicy, clean and fresh.

Medium bodied, bright and with loads of sweet cherries and licorice on the palate, the wine is juicy, clean and fresh.

2,565 Views   Tasted
Deeply colored, fleshy, sweet, round and ripe with volume, length and freshness, this is the best vintage of La Serre I have ever tasted.

Deeply colored, fleshy, sweet, round and ripe with volume, length and freshness, this is the best vintage of La Serre I have ever tasted.

2,447 Views   Tasted
2015
90
Medium-bodied, soft, earthy and fresh, the fruits are ripe with freshness and just hint of licorice and that desired mineral essence that adds a saltiness to the fruit. This will be better with a few years of age. .

Medium-bodied, soft, earthy and fresh, the fruits are ripe with freshness and just hint of licorice and that desired mineral essence that adds a saltiness to the fruit. This will be better with a few years of age. .

3,346 Views   Tasted
With a distinctive floral and red berry nose, this medium-bodied wine is elegant, fresh, soft and sweet with a lingering, spicy cherry note.

With a distinctive floral and red berry nose, this medium-bodied wine is elegant, fresh, soft and sweet with a lingering, spicy cherry note.

2,042 Views   Tasted
2014
88
Flowers and cherry blossoms in the nose are perfectly paired with the wine’s medium bodied, fresh, light, easy drinking, cherry-dominated style. 87-89 Pts

Flowers and cherry blossoms in the nose are perfectly paired with the wine’s medium bodied, fresh, light, easy drinking, cherry-dominated style. 87-89 Pts

2,292 Views   Tasted
2013
85
Light ruby in hue, the wine is earthy, sweet and focused on bright red cherries in the finish. Already open, drink this young. 84-86 Pts

Light ruby in hue, the wine is earthy, sweet and focused on bright red cherries in the finish. Already open, drink this young. 84-86 Pts

2,189 Views   Tasted
2012
88
Cherry, earth and thyme on the nose, medium bodied, with soft, crisp, fresh, light, cherries and red fruit in the finish.

Cherry, earth and thyme on the nose, medium bodied, with soft, crisp, fresh, light, cherries and red fruit in the finish.

2,505 Views   Tasted
With a light kiss of oak, the wine offers fresh cherries, medium body and a light, fresh, clean, red berry finish. 86-88 Pts

With a light kiss of oak, the wine offers fresh cherries, medium body and a light, fresh, clean, red berry finish. 86-88 Pts

2,521 Views   Tasted
2011
89
Located close to the St. Emilion village, this wine offers earth, cocoa and black cherry scents with soft textures, medium body and a soft red berry finish. 88-90 Pts

Located close to the St. Emilion village, this wine offers earth, cocoa and black cherry scents with soft textures, medium body and a soft red berry finish. 88-90 Pts

3,769 Views   Tasted
2010
89
La Serre Located close to the St. Emilion village offers licorice, oak and black cherry, medium body and a soft, black raspberry finish. 88-90 Pts

La Serre Located close to the St. Emilion village offers licorice, oak and black cherry, medium body and a soft, black raspberry finish. 88-90 Pts

3,826 Views   Tasted
2009
89
Forward, medium bodied, fresh, open and serving up an easy drinking mix of ripe dark cherries, black raspberry, flowers and earth, with a soft, polished finish.

Forward, medium bodied, fresh, open and serving up an easy drinking mix of ripe dark cherries, black raspberry, flowers and earth, with a soft, polished finish.

2,417 Views   Tasted
2008
88
08 Château La Serre shows a ruby color with some black fruit and red tints. Medium bodied with an easy going, simple finish. 87-89 Pts

08 Château La Serre shows a ruby color with some black fruit and red tints. Medium bodied with an easy going, simple finish. 87-89 Pts

3,705 Views   Tasted
1961
89
From a perfectly stored magnum, sweet pipe tobacco, cherries, earth and forest scents met with a medium bodied, soft textured wine that ended with spicy, red cherries. What a nice surprise.

From a perfectly stored magnum, sweet pipe tobacco, cherries, earth and forest scents met with a medium bodied, soft textured wine that ended with spicy, red cherries. What a nice surprise.

1,737 Views   Tasted