Chateau Gazin (Pomerol)

Located on the right bank of Bordeaux just next to the appellation of Saint Emilion, Pomerol is one of the smallest wine region in Bordeaux. Pomerol is well known for producing smooth red merlot wines very soft, fruity and elegant. The most expensive wines from Bordeaux are coming and produced in Pomerol and Petrus is for sure the most famous one around this region.


Chateau Gazin formerly belonged to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem (the order of Malta). and is one of the largest estates in its appellation (Pomerol). The vineyard is in a single block on the upper part of the famous Pomerol plateau located just next to the big star "Petrus".
For the little story, chateau Gazin sol one hectare of land and vineyards to Petrus few years ago.

Gazin is currently owned by the Bailliencourt family. Descended from the lords of Landas, the Bailliencourt dit Courcol family is one of the oldest in the Province of Artois. The name Courcol (meaning "short collar") was given to an ancestor by Philippe Auguste King of France in 1214 due to his bravery in time of war. Louis Soualle, the great-grandfather of the present owners, acquired Chateau Gazin in the early 20th century and the estate continue to be carefully managed by his descendants.

The vineyard is composed of 24 hectares of land located on the plateau de Pomerol.
The soil is mainly made of Clay-Gravel with some Günz gravels.
The grape varieties used in the blend are almost 90% of merlot and 7% cabernet sauvignon and 3% cabernet franc.

Because of the global warming, the chateau is slowly replacing the merlot in order to improve the quantity of cabernet franc which seems to me more adapted to warm temperature.

The grapes are fermented in concrete vats and malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel, after which the wine is also aged in aok. It is then fined with egg whites and, if need by lightly filtered before bottling at the chateau.
The wine will age for around 18 month in barrels and the chateau is using 50% new oak barrels every year.

The annual production (80% exported) can attain up to 100,000 bottles (including 30,000 for the second wine named l'Hospitalet de Gzin). Chateau Gazin belongs to the Academie des Vins de Bordeaux.

The chateau is open to the visit on week day only and closed the week-end and during the Primeurs week.

I had the chance to visit few times, and tasted some great vintages as 2009, 2010, 2015. The visit is also very nice as the owner M Nicolas de Bailliencourt is personally taking care of the visitors which is a real privilege.
If you visit he will spend about 1h30 with you sharing is knowledge and passion for its vineyard.