2016 Château Bellegrave, Pomerol

Jean Bouldy purchased the Bellegrave property in the southwestern portion of Pomerol in 1951, passing it on in 1980 to his son Jean-Marie and daughter-in-law Pascale, who continued to cultivate it a l'ancienne. For them, that meant more physical work in the vineyard on their mixed soils of stones, sand and red clay, no chemical treatments or herbicides, and since 2009, steps towards official Organic certification (ECOCERT). The wines at Bellegrave ferment by indigenous yeasts in a combination of cement and stainless steel tanks and age for 20 months in Allier barriques prior to bottling. Varieties: Merlot (75%), Cabernet franc (25%) Average age of vines: 25 years Soils: stones, sand, red clay Vineyard area: 7.5 hectares