2019 Château Bellegrave Pomerol

The paternal grandparents settled in the Gironde at the end of the 19th century, while the maternal grandparents arrived around 1925. Originally from Périgord and Corrèze, they devoted themselves to agriculture and viticulture in Arveyres, a commune near Libourne where Bordeaux Supérieur is made. Son Jean Bouldy and his wife Andrée bought Château Bellegrave in 1951. The couple devoted themselves to winemaking, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. In the second half of the 20th century, the Bouldys were one of the families that gave new impetus to the Pomerol appellation with courage, humility and perseverance. Jean-Marie Bouldy took over the estate in 1980 and was joined by his wife Pascale in 1995. Their children also started working on the estate (Aurélie in 2014 and Jean-Baptiste in 2015).

Small but immense, the Pomerol vineyards are a "select" terroir located 30 km from Bordeaux, near Libourne. What makes the appellation special is its unique and exceptional geological composition. It consists of stony gravel, clay and sand with a subsoil rich in iron oxide, also known as 'crasse de fer'. This perfect soil and subsoil is combined with an ideal microclimate, which contributes to the production of excellent wines. Château Bellegrave and its 8.5 hectares of vines (75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc) are located in the southwest of the Pomerol appellation.

100% organic, 100% Pomerol, that's what Château Bellegrave is

Originally, the viticultural processes used were 'conventional' – absolutely sustainable (tillage by machine to avoid the use of herbicides, fertilizers, etc.), but synthetic pesticides were still used. The shock came in the early 2000s when the law required suppliers to provide safety data sheets, and Jean-Marie Bouldy discovered that certain products were dangerous! Jean-Marie Bouldy immersed herself in works devoted to organic farming, attended seminars and conferences and carried out tests and studies on selected plots and the choice was made. No more chemistry box and we switched to organic viticulture and painstaking work was needed to restore underground life in the soil and give the plants that logical ingredient we had forgotten: natural nutrition! Organic simply means following the laws of nature. Jean-Marie started organic viticulture in 2001.

Château Bellegrave officially switched to organic farming in 2009 with its ECOCERT certification. His ethos: 'We must say masses among the vines!' This is not magic, but agronomy and a new dialogue with the land. Nor is it a return to the Middle Ages, on the contrary: the approach is based on the latest science and technology with a comprehensive view of the plant, the soil, the climate, the seasons, the moon, biodiversity, and flora and fauna. Hares run between the rows again!! Most of the work is done between the vines, without having to be overly intrusive in the winery: only the quality of the fruit is enough, as the grapes now have an incomparable taste! All that remains is to oversee the winemaking, helping in a simple, uncomplicated way. The wine's quality and enduring excellence alone demonstrate his dedication. Everything you need is there: Pomerol and organic in one!

The harvests at Château Bellegrave are always carried out by hand, a practice that has become even more important in the context of organic farming today. Of course, the harvest is done plot by plot and the order in which the rows are tackled is based on the final ripening threshold. Technology is built in via highly advanced sorting tables, allowing unwanted leaves, stems and seeds to be removed. The soft-picked grapes are then left to 'natural' fermentation and maceration in temperature-controlled vats for better temperature regulation. The aging takes place in barrels made of Allier oak, in particular from the forest of Tronçais, a very fine-grained wood that gives delicate spicy notes to the wine (without dominating the aromas) and supports the aging process until it is about 20 months later is bottled.

Château Bellegrave Pomerol is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. The wine has a deep ruby red color. It opens with tantalizing plum preserves, blueberry pie and blackberry compote with notes of licorice, dusty earth, cinnamon stick and garrigue. It is medium to full-bodied with a fresh, smooth finish. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is loaded with juicy black fruits and plenty of spicy notes, framed by soft tannins and just enough freshness, ending with an aniseed note.