In the heart of the Pomerol plateau, the vineyards of Château Gombaude-Guillot have been a family property for so long that the current generation doesn’t even know when they were first acquired. Claire Laval is at the helm of the estate today, dedicating much of her attention to the environmental future of the estate, from working towards a biodynamic certification to the use of local oak for fermentation and aging. Claire’s reputation among her peers also speaks volumes of her capabilities and work ethic: in 1991, she and only one other woman were inducted into the Confrerie des Hospitaliers de Pomerol, a first in this traditionally all-male wine fraternity.

Pairing: Steak dinners, Lobster served with a red wine reduction 

Grape: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc

Soil: gravel and flint with very fine, decomposed clay

Viticulture: Organic, pursuing biodynamic certification