Château Le Caillou

Portrait of a winegrower Pomerol

A bit of history

Extended in 1905 with the Domaine de Lacombe, then in 1974 with the Clos Lacombe, the Château “Le Caillou” has been the property, for more than a century, of the Bélivier of Pomerol family who transmitted it, in 1975, to the Lucien Giraud family.
Today, it is André Giraud who manages the estate, taking particular care since 25 years to the quality of his wines.

A typical terroir...

This vineyard owes its name to a plot registered under the name of “Le Caillou”. The 7 hectares of vine, of an average age of 30 years, are particularly well-situated on the Pomerol plateau, on a very typical sandy-gravelly soil rich in iron oxide (locally called crasse de fer).

The varietals...

The varietals Merlot (75%), and Cabernet Franc (25%) will bring roundness and power on the one hand, structure and complexity on the other hand. Thanks to the wine grower's work and talent, the wines of the Château “Le Caillou”, from the Pomerol Appellation, are different by their bouquet and their great fineness.

The vinification...

At perfect ripening, the harvest is hand-made by local workforce. Depending on the year, the wine is subjected to a 3 to 4-weeks maceration to extract the most of the tannins. The fermentations are proceeded in traditional vats. The ageing is done for 2/3 in oak barrels during 12 to 15 months and for 1/3 in concrete vats, with a 3-month rotation corresponding to the racking. Then comes the blending of the vintage.
Moderate yields, an attentive selection and a carefully done vinification, supervised by Gilles Pauquet, oenologist, enable the Château “'Le Caillou”' to propose bottles that guarantee a production that is respectful of the tradition, with a bottling at the Château.
The average annual production is of 35 barrels, ie some 40,000 bottles (3,300 boxes of 12 bottles). The wine is sold to private customers at the Château, by mail-order and through merchants.

Some great achievements...

Very charming, the Pomerol 2006 with a crimson colour, and a nose of crystallized fruits, with very harmonious tannins, is a great wine with a distinctive character, with notes of blackcurrants and leather, of great richness.
The 2005, with a lovely dark colour, is a very scented wine, with a nose of macerated fruits and humus, with a distinctive character, full-bodied and well-structured. A wine that combines structure and roundness on the palate, with great ageing potential.
The flavoursome 2004, of garnet-red colour, with delicious tannins, very well matured, full of aromatic hues, reveals notes of crystallized cherries and pepper.
The 2003, generous, lovely coloured, with a nose dominated by humus and small red fruits, ample and rich on the palate, well-balanced, is a fleshy wine with excellent evolution.

Dominique PEYRAL-BONANDRE GIRAUD
Château Le Caillou
41, rue de Catusseau
33500 Pomerol
Tél. : 05 57 51 06 10

Fax : 05 57 51 74 95

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www.vins-giraud-belivier.com