The chateau was transformed in just a few years with new cellars and a vathouse built where old buildings had been demolished.
The stone-built chateau has been completely refurbished with premium materials, while respecting its original 19th century architecture. The vineyard has been reorganised, and several plots have been drained on this property that was once neglected and practically abandoned.
“Badette is surrounded on all sides by classed growths. I want our wine to express its terroir with vigour, but subtlety and elegance too.”
To achieve this balance, Marc Vandenbogaerde very quickly took the necessary decisions to provide the means to realise his ambitions. The intention here is to support the natural cycle at every step, enabling an enhanced expression of the terroir. A grass cover crop is maintained in the vineyard, the vines’ leaves are removed, the ground is traditionally tilled and there is no herbicide use, the grapes are hand-picked and carried in crates and sorted on a table, the fruit is vinified in small 4,000- to 7,000-litre tanks, and the wine is carefully aged in controlled temperatures. Part of the wine is made and aged completely in new barrels.
Arnaud Vandenbogaerde took over the management of the property in 2020.
He applies his father’s philosophy and adds his own know-how. Making changes to how the wine is aged, he is also passionately convinced of the benefits of green manure, and has introduced its uses on the estate.
“Just as I do in my pastures, I started to improve the vineyard soil by choosing the best green manure crops to break down compacted soil, to fix nitrogen and fight erosion.”
He does everything he can to nurture biodiversity and soil life on the estate, thereby making the vines stronger, He has also introduced fruit trees, hedges, herbs, grassy areas and ponds, while an ecological garden has been established and extended alongside the vineyard. A virtuous cycle has been set up by using pesticides rationally, while favouring mating disruption. All these changes have been recognised by level 4 High Environmental Value (HVE) certification.
