Heritage, Craft, and a Saint-Émilion Story: An Evening with Château Chauvin

Beneath the iconic chandeliers of Baccarat Hotel New York, guests gathered for a rare and radiant dinner celebrating the wines of Château Chauvin, a Saint-Émilion estate whose history runs centuries deep. Known for crafting elegant, terroir-driven expressions shaped by the region’s prized blue-clay soils, the 15-hectare property was acquired by Sylvie Cazes in 2014 and has since become a modern emblem of Saint-Émilion’s enduring traditions.

For Sylvia, the evening offered a rare opportunity to share Chauvin’s identity through its wines: their origin, their legacy, and the people devoted to bringing each vintage to life. As the night unfolded and glasses were raised, guests were welcomed into a world where tradition meets innovation, and every sip carries the essence of Saint-Émilion. The collaboration extends beyond the evening itself, with Château Chauvin joining Baccarat Hotel New York’s by-the-bottle wine selection this January, followed by a curated presence in the minibar beginning in February, inviting guests to continue the Saint-Émilion story long after the last glass is poured. We sat with Sylvia as she reflected on the magic of the night, the soul of Chauvin, and the craftsmanship that connects her world to Baccarat’s own legacy of artistry and precision.

Under the Chandeliers with Sylvia Cazes of Château Chauvin

This dinner is designed as an intimate, festive gathering beneath Baccarat’s chandeliers. What does a celebratory evening mean to you, and how do you hope guests feel when they sit at the table?

I feel so proud that our château Chauvin was shared with such a distinguished audience. The setting was incredible. The chandeliers gave a cozy refined, sophisticated atmosphere. The table was so elegant and the guests were so happy and friendly. I felt our wine was like a jewel in its magical glass case. The guests need to feel they are part of a unique experience, which was the case, as we never had a Chauvin dinner in such an elegant and brilliant setting. We shared many anecdotes on the property and on the wines. It was a unique journey!

Château Chauvin has a remarkable history in Saint-Émilion. How would you describe its identity to someone discovering your wines for the first time?

Château Chauvin was once considered as the “metairie” (the farm) of Cheval Blanc, its illustrious neighbor. The first signs of the property date from the 17th century, but since the mid-1800s, it has belonged to the same family. The Ondet sisters, Marie-France and Béatrice, had taken over from their father, but none of their children was ready to work on the winery. Our family had been proprietor of Lynch-Bagesz in Pauillac on the left bank for four generations and my children and I decided we could have an adventure on the right bank. My daughter Julie now runs the estate, renewing the tradition of ladies management.

The vineyard is located on beautiful blue clay soils on the plateau situated north of the village of Saint-Emilion, close to Pomerol appellation. It is planted with a majority of merlot which gives the roundness and the fruit to the wines and a growing proportion of cabernet-franc, which, thanks to a more regular and warmer weather, ages beautifully and adds complexity and elegance to the wines.

Do you have a personal favorite among the wines you’ve been pouring recently? What makes it your top pick?

I love 2020 as it is one of the most beautiful vintages we had in the past few years. We had a warm summer and the wine is full of lovely mature fruit, balanced with a real freshness due to the cool nights we had at the end of the summer. It is the archetype of a classy Saint-Emilion, which can be appreciated in the next few years as well as age beautifully in your cellars.

Baccarat’s legacy centers on artistry and precision. In what ways do you see that same spirit reflected in the world of Château Chauvin?

Baccarat legacy is a mix of tradition, innovation, art, and precision. When we make wine in our little part of the world, we are faithful to the same values : tradition of course as the properties are handed from generations to generations. Innovation plays an important part as we are concerned with purity of the fruit and elegance in the wines. And of course precision is the final word if you want to keep the level of quality our wine lovers around the world are expecting.
It was such a brilliant evening!