#118 - Saint-Emilion and its satellites, with Anthony Appollot, GM of Sarments Vignobles

Ever wondered what it takes to turn Saint-Émilion's overlooked neighbours into a destination in their own right? This episode takes us to Château de Lussac, flagship estate of a Bordeaux group that's rebuilding itself château by château, and rethinking what a satellite appellation can be. We sit down with Anthony Appollot, general manager of Sarments Vignobles, a sixth-generation Saint-Émilion winemaker who spent years as an independent vineyard consultant before assembling the group's four estates in under a decade, to trace how it all came together and where he's taking it next. Anthony walks us through top-grafting Chenin Blanc onto decades-old Merlot vines, why he's pulling up a third of Lussac's vineyard to plant walnut trees and truffle oaks, and the disease-spotting drone he helped calibrate that kept the group's harvest intact during 2024's brutal mildew year. Expect an 80-year-old field blend planted after a killer frost, a secret Italian grape variety, and a very candid read on the Bordeaux crisis from someone who's still buying. Tune in! ▬▬ 🎁 GIFTS 🎁 ▬▬ 📚 The World Atlas of Wine, by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson 🍷 Learn more about the estates: Sarments vignobles Château de Lussac Château de Saint-Pey Château Saint-Jean de Lavaud Château Vieux Maillet Château Cantereau 🤖 Disease-spotting drones: Chouette 🎁 Get your wine essentials on our shop: a curated selection of wine accessories, posters and much more 🗺️ Get the best French Wine Map: as information as decorative ▬▬ ⭐️ ABOUT ⭐️ ▬▬ My name is Antoine, and I’ve been passionate about wine for several years. I knew nothing at first, so I went out to meet the biggest figures in the industry and turned those encounters into a podcast that’s now listened to by over 100,000 people. I now share with you what I’ve learned, and I hope we embark together on a beautiful wine journey to discover the finest experiences. ALCOHOL ABUSE IS DANGEROUS FOUR YOUR HEALTH. CONSUME IN MODERATION. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.