Chateau le gay
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First, though, as is customary, I present the history of the domaine, or at least what little we know of it.
As is the case with many Pomerol estates, the exact origins of Château Le Gay, and in particular who was responsible for planting the first vines, is not known. The property's understated elegance reflects the region's focus on substance over spectacle, where the emphasis remains firmly on the wines themselves.
Convinced that “vinification intégrale” fermentation enhances quality, Henri Parent began renovating the Château Le Gay cellar in 2014 (despite its recent renovation in 2003) in order to control the temperature of the 250 barrels during the maceration and fermentation processes.
In this never-ending quest for quality, each vine is known and recorded, the harvest is carried out in several passes, and barrel fermentation helps to separate each subplot in individual batches.
Château Le Gay
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Bordeaux
WINERY SUMMARY
Where tradition meets innovation on Pomerol's prestigious plateau, Château Le Gay transforms 10.5 hectares of exceptional terroir into some of Bordeaux's most coveted wines. His is perhaps already a familiar name, having cropped up before in my history of the now defunct Providence, which was once part of the Tropchaud estate near the centre of Pomerol.
Their philosophy centers on harnessing the unique character of ancient vines, some predating the devastating 1956 frost, to create wines of extraordinary depth and complexity. Thérèse et Marie Robin jouissaient d’une grande considération auprès de tous les habitants de Pomerol, et portaient haut la devise de leur père : « Qualité passe quantité ».
A sa reprise en 2002, Catherine Péré-Vergé a immédiatement entrepris la rénovation complète de la propriété : construction d’un nouveau cuvier et d’un chai à barriques, restauration de la maison du domaine, et plantation sur des parcelles restées vierges sur 4 hectares.
Beyond lay Château du Domaine de l’Église and so, just around the corner, was Clos de l’Église and Château L’Église-Clinet. Château Le Gay is, it would seem, a Pomerol domaine worth knowing, and yet it is a château which I came to rather late in my explorations of Pomerol. Contact The En Primeur Club to secure your allocation of these rare, investment-grade bottles and discover why discerning collectors consider Le Gay essential to any serious Bordeaux portfolio.
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Château Le Gay
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Standing on the Chemin de Chantecaille in October 2013 I surveyed the landscape of Pomerol that lay all around me.
Private tastings showcase the estate's commitment to quality, featuring vertical tastings that demonstrate the remarkable aging potential of these collectible wines. Indeed, the Fontémoing family were important négociants and landowners who crop up in numerous St Emilion and Pomerol profiles.
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Château Le Gay
Ideally situated on the Pomerol plateau, Château Le Gay used to be owned by the Robin sisters.
This profile details its story, its terroir, how it fits within the Pomerol pecking order, and in particular how it copes with being one of a number of domaines – including several of those above, and others not mentioned – that sit on the very periphery of the Pomerol plateau, as the gravel and clay of the central section gives way to the lighter, sandy slopes that run down to the Barbanne.
80% of the vineyard has been restructured with high-density planting (9,000 vines/hectare). This commitment to preserving Pomerol's heritage while embracing cutting-edge techniques has established Le Gay as a producer of exceptional distinction.
The estate's grand vin showcases the power of old-vine Merlot, sourced exclusively from vines over 40 years old planted in the plateau's coveted clay and gravel soils.
Neither is there any good explanation for the name Le Gay, although, in view of the fact that other nearby properties including the twins Château La Fleur de Gay and Château La Croix de Gay as well as Château Vray Croix de Gay also reference the name, it seems likely that it relates to a historical figure of some significance in this region.
De longues macérations pré-fermentaires à froid permettent d’extraire les tanins sur plusieurs jours et la vinification intégrale en barriques permet de patiner les barriques neuves.
Seul le second vin, Manoir de Gay, est vinifié de manière classique en cuves bétons thermorégulées. The majority of the vineyard is planted with 90% Merlot, although the proportion of Cabernet Franc is expected to increase in the next few years.
Nothing is left to chance to ensure that Château Le Gay keeps moving forward.
Representatives of the Castle
Key numbers
91,3 % Merlot, 8,7 % Cabernet Franc
18 months
New barrels: 100%
How to pronounce Château Le Gay ?
Propriété des demoiselles Robin pendant soixante ans, le château produisait un vin connu des amateurs les plus exigeants.
Tout y a été pensé et réalisé pour assurer un traitement doux des raisins et du vin avec le choix de la gravité, évitant ainsi les pompages et manipulations. Mais la fermentation pré-fermentaire à froid est également mise en place pour les mêmes raisons : extraire le fruit le plus lentement possible pour éviter la sur extraction.
The Parent family took over the 12-hectare estate in 2002.
Since then, the vineyard and cellar have been constantly evolving.