Château Montdoyen, nestled in the Perigord in the commune of Monbazillac, produces more than just very good dessert wines. For Monbazillac is just one of the satellites of the AOC Bergerac wine growing area, an area which has considerable potential and is starting to become known to a few privileged initiates.
That's why the appellation holds such interest for Jean-Paul Hembise and why he has a project to produce a full range of wines from dry white to red, not forgetting the sweet white, rosé and dessert wines.
The Perigord and “its” Dordogne is Jean-Paul Hembise's spiritual home, although his other job led him to live in the North of France, near Lille.
“I spent all my childhood holidays in the Dordogne where my maternal grand-father had a holiday home and agricultural properties. I have really strong ties there” says this enthusiastic businessman, who has been wishing to acquire a Bordeaux vineyard for a long time. 14 years ago, on the verge of giving up his dream because he couldn't find want he wanted, he fell in love with what was then called the “Chateau Le Puch” – then in decline. A 360° view over a magnificent domain crowned with vines and overlooking meadows and woods, its proud and majestic neighbour the Château de Bridoire, an ancient tower, probably the remains of a small castle belonging to Perigord gentry, an exceptional terroir - all the ingredients needed for a project that would become known as “Château Montdoyen”.
The best in technology and tradition at the service of passion
Nevertheless Jean-Paul Hembise and his passionate team had to work flat out to make the vineyard become what it is today.
To ensure that the terroir could best express its potential in all its diversity and complexity, a soil map was drawn up using the Hérody method, which helped define the agronomic value and function of each parcel so as to “personalize” the work and to be able to preserve and improve fertility in the most natural way possible.
The vineyard has been recovered and replanted with 5,500 grapevines per hectare as is done in the most prestigious crus of the neighbouring Libourne wine region.
The cellars were brought up to the highest standards with pigeage stainless-steel vats, pneumatic presses and a peristaltic pump.
Everything is designed and elaborated to give Montdoyen wines their own personality and express at best the terroir that gives birth to them. .
Respect for nature
The vine is worked combining an organic approach and rational farming - mechanical weeding, natural compost, etc...
High foliage to 'feed' the grapes with sugar and natural juices, narrow foliage to ensure better ventilation, green harvests - nothing is left to chance to ensure that each grape ripens in the best conditions.
The latest innovation: 90 bird nesting boxes are being installed to promote biodiversity and natural insect control.
“In striving for excellence, there is obviously a lot of work to be done at each stage, but it is exciting and gratifying for a team of enthusiasts to try and always give their best!” insists Jean-Paul Hembise, whose head is full of projects for Château Montdoyen, “wanting to go all the way and to make the difference.” Dominique Salomon The range of wines, amongst others:«Tout simplement»So that each person can make up his own mind...quite simply.
Special recommendation of the Guide Hachette.
«Divine miséricorde»Premium dry white, 50% sauvignon blanc, 50% sauvignon gris. Surprising...
«Femme, je vous aime»The chateau’s dessert wine. By love.
«Top Pic Star» by Andréas Larson, Best Sommelier of the World 2007.
Encépagement :Whites: Semillon, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris.
Reds: Merlot 65 %, Cabernet Franc 20%,
Cabernet Sauvignon 10%, Malbec 5%.
Vignobles Hembise - Château Montdoyen
AOC Bergerac et Monbazillac - Le Puch
24240 MONBAZILLAC
Tel. + 33 (0)5 53 58 85 85
Fax : + 33 (0)5 53 61 67 78
www.chateau-montdoyen.com
