Château Vignelaure

Estate & appellation history 1965 — Cabernet Sauvignon planted, the source of the estate’s first vintage. 1970 — First vintage; the wine was more or less 100% Cabernet. 1985 — Appellation Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence created. New rules demanded less Cabernet and more Syrah and Grenache, which Vignelaure subsequently planted. Cabernet still accounts for 60–70% of the blend. 1986 — Brunet sells Vignelaure to the owners of Galoupet and St Jean de Villecroze. 1994 — Estate bought by O’Brien (Irish owner). 2004 — Swedish winemaker Sigvard Johnson arrives. 2007 — Harvest by former Irish owner O’Brian and Philippe Bru, started in October. Last vintage to include Grenache (5%). 2008 — Philippe Bru’s first vintage; harvest started 28 September. 2011 — Per Bengt, the best vintage (quality and quantity) since the current owners bought Vignelaure.