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. 

Clos Plince is Gombaude Guillot’s single-vineyard bottling, produced exclusively from the domaine’s oldest vines, which range from 70 to 120 years old. Situated in the heart of Pomerol, the vineyard lies on a classic mix of gravel, sand, and iron-rich clay soils that define the appellation’s most prized terroirs.

The 2019 vintage is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, hand-harvested and sorted meticulously in the vineyard. Fermentation is carried out with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled concrete tanks, followed by élevage in amphorae and oak barrels (25% new) for approximately 15 months. No synthetic additives are used at any stage, and sulfur is kept to a minimum.

Pairing: The best freakin' steak you can buy

Grape: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc

Soil: Gravel and flint with very fine, decomposed clay

Viticulture: Organic, pursuing biodynamic certification