LOCATION : This estate, situated in the Puisseguin area near Saint-Emilion, has been entirely renovated by a businessman from Normandy, to accommodate luxury guest bedrooms.

Seen from the road leaving the town of Puisseguin, Château de Môle seems to be just another cut stone façade among many in the region. It is not until you turn into the driveway and approach the property through the courtyard, that this beautiful 18th century dwelling truly unveils its charms.

Buyer and seller :

A well-tended garden comes into view, followed by an attractive porch and a beautiful entrance hall, all of which exude the charm associated with the traditional ‘Bourgeois’ manor houses of Saint-Emilion. Indeed, Eric Auger admits he fell in love with the place at first sight. “I was looking for a wine property in the region to buy,” explains this businessman originating from Normandy. “It seemed like the ideal place. I wasn’t interested in just having a château, I also wanted a vineyard, somewhere to make wine and talk about it.”

However, perhaps the salt of the story lies elsewhere. Eric Auger has remained on excellent terms with Bernard Lenier, who sold him the estate in 2006, and whose family had owned Môle for several generations. This understanding between buyer and seller is a rarity in itself. In fact, the previous owner has stayed on as cultivation manager. The Normandy buyer, who is a passionate wine enthusiast, made the wise decision to surround himself with the experienced advice from natives of the region, namely that of his seller and oenologist Stéphane Toutoundji. “I think my passion was born during my childhood, when I used to watch cider being made. Of course this is different, but wine has always fascinated me.”
The new proprietor, who is a man whose success and impatient enthusiasm are evident, quickly decided to invest in largescale renovation work on the property. Traditional stone and wood were used in the complete makeover of the château, which included luxury guest bedrooms. For more than two years, a succession of local craftsmen and builders worked on the site. The work is almost finished and the inauguration is scheduled for June.

Best of Wine Tourism :

In the next few weeks, the vat room will be totally renovated and modernized. In the next door reception room which is also the tasting room, stands an old wooden fermenting tank which has been revamped. The walls are adorned with artwork by Arnaud de Sainte-Marie (a cross between sketches and digital imagery), which contrasts with this décor set in old stone. A few downward steps away is a vast cellar which has been carved out of the rock and where up to 180 barrels are kept. This is a perfect place to age wine at an ideal temperature. But Château de Môle is also a pleasant host to other guests apart from wine. Its elegantly decorated, luxury guest bedrooms, some of which boast an ensuite sauna and jacuzzi, are in fact quite modestly priced at between 90 and 140 euros (breakfast included). Moreover, the château has recently been awarded with a Best of Wine Tourism 2010 gold medal, in the château accommodation category.

One could almost be forgiven for forgetting that Môle is also and especially a winery. The new team, together with its predecessors, produces two wines from the appellation Puisseguin Saint-Emilion : Château de Môle and its second label, Roc Saint-Jacques. “We practise sustainable viticulture by eliminating all chemically-based products,” underlines Bernard Lenier.
Maryline Nouet, who manages the guest and reception rooms, adds that “all the products we use inside are natural too.”

PHOTO : (BR.B) : Left to right : Manageress Maryline Nouet, oenologist Stéphane Toutoundji, ex-proprietor Bernard Lenier and businessman Eric Auger, who bought the château in 2006.