Château Laniote

Château Laniote was established in 1816 when Pierre Lacoste, a Saint-Émilion wine merchant, purchased a cellar and neighboring vines and gradually expanded the property through 1844. From that point the estate has remained exactly 5 hectares. What makes Laniote exceptional from a succession standpoint is that the property passed through eight generations in direct maternal line, through the families Lacoste, Rouja, Freymond, Schneider, and de la Filolie. Today, Arnaud de la Filolie manages the property as the ninth generation, with oenologist Florence de la Filolie overseeing vinification. The de la Filolie family has held the estate for nearly two centuries.

• Founded 1816 by Pierre Lacoste, wine merchant
• Property boundaries unchanged since 1844
• Eight consecutive generations of maternal succession
• Current owner: Arnaud de la Filolie (9th generation); oenologist: Florence de la Filolie

The 5-hectare vineyard sits within the Saint-Émilion appellation on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Elevations reach 60 meters at the highest point, with slopes oriented east-west and a predominantly southeast-facing aspect. The soils are clay-limestone over a limestone subsoil, a terroir type well suited to Merlot's preference for moisture retention and its tendency to ripen earlier than Cabernet varieties. The maritime climate, shaped by Atlantic influence, provides a temperate growing environment across the growing season.

• 5 hectares on clay-limestone soils over limestone bedrock
• Southeast-facing slopes, peak elevation 60 meters
• Temperate maritime climate with Atlantic influence
• Terroir supports early-ripening Merlot as the dominant variety

Merlot dominates the blend at 74 to 80%, consistent with the broader Saint-Émilion Grand Cru style and well matched to the clay-limestone soils. Cabernet Franc contributes 15 to 21%, adding aromatic complexity, floral lift, and structural freshness. Cabernet Sauvignon rounds out the blend at 5 to 8%, providing additional tannin framework and aging potential. This classic Right Bank composition, with Merlot as the foundation and Cabernet Franc as the primary blending partner, positions Laniote squarely within the Saint-Émilion typicity.

• Merlot: 74-80% (primary variety)
• Cabernet Franc: 15-21% (aromatic complexity and freshness)
• Cabernet Sauvignon: 5-8% (structure and aging support)
• Classic Right Bank Merlot-led blend

Beyond the vineyard, the de la Filolie family holds ownership of three significant historic sites within Saint-Émilion village, all registered as French Historic Monuments. These include the Hermitage de Saint-Émilion, a 13th-century chapel; the Chapel of the Trinity; and part of the Catacombs. These properties connect the estate directly to the medieval religious heritage that defines the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of Saint-Émilion. For students of Bordeaux, this dual identity, as both classified wine estate and custodian of medieval monuments, makes Laniote one of the more distinctive names in the appellation.

• Hermitage de Saint-Émilion: 13th-century chapel, French Historic Monument
• Chapel of the Trinity: also a French Historic Monument
• Part of the Saint-Émilion Catacombs: French Historic Monument
• Saint-Émilion's village and vineyards form a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Château Laniote produces a medium to full-bodied red wine expressing ripe red and black fruits alongside floral notes typical of Cabernet Franc. The clay-limestone terroir contributes to fine, integrated tannins, and the winemaking approach under Florence de la Filolie favors elegant wood characteristics rather than heavy extraction. The overall profile places Laniote in the refined, terroir-expressive category of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, offering both approachability in youth and the structure to develop with bottle age.