Out with the stainless steel and in with the concrete?
The Bordeaux chateaux are building new cellars as never before. The economic crisis seems to be long gone, at least in Médoc, Saint Emilion and Pomerol. Of the five Premier Grand Cru Classé chateaux three are currently busy renovating: Mouton-Rothschild, Latour and Margaux.
In 2011 Château Cheval Blanc in Saint Emilion inaugurated its brand new cellar. It is a futuristic creation looking something like a wave and it has attracted a lot of attention. This is of course one reason for building a spectacular cellar.
Next to Cheval Blanc, Château la Dominique is busy with its own new cellar, planned to be ready for the harvest 2013. Rumour has it that it will be something like a work of art in the vineyard. The famous Jean Nouvel (l’Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris among many other things) is the architect. Château Carmes Haut-Brion in Pessac-Léognan has engaged the not less famous Philippe Starck for their new cellar.
The brand new chai of Château Petit Village in Pomerol has dramatically black concrete fermentation tanks and, in contrast, a pretty and colourful wine shop. Chateau Petrus, also in Pomerol, has been under construction for a while now and will be ready this summer.
Many of the new cellars are equipped with concrete tanks. The stainless steel tanks, are they history?
