The Champseix family has made wine at Château Vieux Chevrol for many generations and continues to produce a very traditional style. Michel Champseix is now at the helm, having taken over from his father Jean-Pierre in 2016. Jean-Pierre always respected the land and farmed naturally, but Michel immediately worked to gain organic certification upon assuming control. They remain a very consistent and reliable producer in Lalande de Pomerol, which sits just north of Pomerol. The Chateau Vieux Chevrol vineyard lies on the Neac plateau, a terroir long considered the most privileged of the appellation. 

Their flagship red, this blend comprises the exact ratio of plantings in their vineyard - mostly Merlot with 10% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with an average age of 30 years. Hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts, the wine is aged for a full year in large oak casks, of which only 10% are new. Michel avoids the use of sulfur during the winemaking process, using only CO2 to prevent oxidation. The wine is fined with egg whites and bottle unfiltered, with only a small sulfur addition at bottling, for less than 30mg/L of SO2. A perfect amount of bottle age rounds out this lively, medium-bodied Bordeaux with a seamless texture of silky tannins and solid acidity. Expect notes of black and red fruits, leather spice, tobacco and a touch of smoke, all integrated into a very smooth mouthfeel and robust finish. 

Pairing: Braised meats, Gooey French cheeses 

Grape: 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon 

Soil: Clay mixed with gravel and iron-rich sandstone known locally as “crasse de fer”

Viticulture: Organic