Château Gombaude-Guillot
In
the heart of the Pomerol plateau, on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, 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. The
Bélevier family was already well established as vignerons in Pomerol and Néac when this property was passed down to
Marie Bélevier as a dowry in 1868. The “château” itself, which was originally a
café where the locals would gather for a drink after church services, was added
to the property in 1922. Today, Claire Laval, Marie’s great-granddaughter, runs
the estate. Claire started her career as an agronomist, specializing in soils
best suited for cattle, and had no formal training in viticulture. It is
through viticulture, though, that she has refined her expertise in soil management,
learning from her own work in the vineyards. Though the estate is already
certified organic, she is now pursuing the more stringent requirements of
biodynamics. Her dedication to the environment even extends to using local oak
for the wines’ élevage. 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.
As
a recently discovered jewel in the crown of Bordeaux, Pomerol does not have an
official classification system, yet the standards set for the vignerons here are high. The château’s
vineyards are comprised of glacial gravel deposits and clay, and vineyard work
is focused around soil health, low yields, and maximizing ripeness. Cover crops
are planted between vineyard rows to encourage microbiological activity in the
soil. No chemical or synthetic herbicides or fungicides are used, and Claire is
also careful not to eliminate vineyard pests entirely, citing their importance
to the vineyard’s ecosystem. The vines average forty years of age and give
naturally low yields. The wines of Gombaude-Guillot are classic reflections of
Pomerol: rich and supple, with a deep gravel mineral structure. This vin de garde has all of the grace and
finesse for which the appellation is known, without any of the highbrow
pretention or price.

In the heart of the Pomerol plateau, on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, 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. The Bélevier family was already well established as vignerons in Pomerol and Néac when this property was passed down to Marie Bélevier as a dowry in 1868. The “château” itself, which was originally a café where the locals would gather for a drink after church services, was added to the property in 1922. Today, Claire Laval, Marie’s great-granddaughter, runs the estate. Claire started her career as an agronomist, specializing in soils best suited for cattle, and had no formal training in viticulture. It is through viticulture, though, that she has refined her expertise in soil management, learning from her own work in the vineyards. Though the estate is already certified organic, she is now pursuing the more stringent requirements of biodynamics. Her dedication to the environment even extends to using local oak for the wines’ élevage. 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.
As
a recently discovered jewel in the crown of Bordeaux, Pomerol does not have an
official classification system, yet the standards set for the vignerons here are high. The château’s
vineyards are comprised of glacial gravel deposits and clay, and vineyard work
is focused around soil health, low yields, and maximizing ripeness. Cover crops
are planted between vineyard rows to encourage microbiological activity in the
soil. No chemical or synthetic herbicides or fungicides are used, and Claire is
also careful not to eliminate vineyard pests entirely, citing their importance
to the vineyard’s ecosystem. The vines average forty years of age and give
naturally low yields. The wines of Gombaude-Guillot are classic reflections of
Pomerol: rich and supple, with a deep gravel mineral structure. This vin de garde has all of the grace and
finesse for which the appellation is known, without any of the highbrow
pretention or price.
Technical Information
Wine | Blend | Vine Age | Soil Type | Vineyard Area* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pomerol |
85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc | 40 years | Flint, Clay | 7 ha |
Pomerol “Clos Plince” |
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet (Franc and Sauvignon) | 50 years avg | Sandy | 1.15 ha |
Pomerol “Pom ‘N Roll” |
Varies by vintage: see below | 40 years average | Gravel, clay | N/A |
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres |
VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION
Pomerol:
• All grapes are harvested by hand , sorted, de-stemmed and lightly crushed
• Wine undergoes natural fermentation in temperature-controlled concrete and stainless steel cuves for 3-4 weeks
• Regular pumpovers at the beginning of fermentation (2-4 times a day)
• Wine is aged in Allier oak barrels, 50% of which are new, although the proportion of new oak varies according to the vintage
• Wine is bottled unfiltered
Pomerol “Clos Plince”:
• All grapes are harvested by hand
• Aged in oak barrels, (25% new) for 12 to 15 months
Pomerol “Pom ‘N Roll”:
• All grapes are harvested by hand, sorted, de-stemmed and lightly crushed
• Fermented 3 weeks in cement tank
• 2017 aged one year in amphora
• 2016 aged one year in barriques (one year old)
• 2017 blend: 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc
• 2016 blend: 50% Merlot, 30% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Franc
General Information
- Country
- France
- Region
- Bordeaux
- Appellation(s)
- Pomerol
- Producer
- Claire Laval
- Founded
- 1868
- Annual Production
- 2,500 cases
- Farming
- Organic (certified)