Château de Sales

History of Château de Sales

The history of Château de Sales begins in 1464, when Bertrand de Sauvanelle leased and then purchased an estate from Dominican monks. The property was officially acquired by the Sauvanelle family in 1578 and took the name Château de Sales after 1602, when the Sauvanelle brothers, known as the Lords of Sales, organised the production and export of wine as far as Spain. The château, one of the first chartreuses of the era and the only true château in Pomerol, was built in the first half of the 17th century by Jean de Sauvanelle, mayor of Libourne.

Passed down uninterrupted from generation to generation, the estate has seen four families succeed one another, all descended from the Sauvanelles: the Sauvanelles, the Desaigues, the de Laages and the Lamberts. During the French Revolution, the women managed the property before being imprisoned for around fifteen months, until the fall of Robespierre. Upon their return, they found a pillaged château and bought back the share that had been sold as national property. Henri de Lambert subsequently modernised the estate and expanded the vineyard from 28 to nearly 48 hectares, while Bruno de Lambert opened the property to wine tourism. Today managed by the heirs of the de Lambert family, Château de Sales has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1996.

Terroirs and Vines of Château de Sales

Located in the north-west of the Pomerol appellation, in the communes of Libourne and Lalande-de-Pomerol, Château de Sales possesses the largest vineyard in the AOC, with 47.6 hectares of vines in a single block. Its boundaries have barely changed since the 16th century, to within three hectares. The terroir is composed of small gravels and warm sands containing iron oxides, whose remarkable geological homogeneity gives the cru a strong identity.

The grape variety composition is dominated by merlot (73%), complemented by cabernet sauvignon (15%) and cabernet franc (12%). Planted at an average density of 5,900 vines per hectare, the vines average over thirty years of age. The remainder of the estate is divided between parkland, woodland, a bamboo grove and a reflecting pool. Certified Haute Valeur Environnementale since 2020, Château de Sales has banned chemical herbicides and promotes biodiversity within its vineyard.

Winemaking at Château de Sales

The grapes are harvested by hand, at optimal ripeness plot by plot, following careful vineyard work including leaf removal and green harvesting. The winemaking takes place in large thermoregulated concrete vats, faithful to the estate's tradition. Once malolactic fermentation is complete, tastings are held to select the lots destined for the Fine Wine and those for the second wine.

Château de Sales is aged for approximately twelve months in oak barrels, renewed at a rate of 15 to 20% each year, which preserves the purity of the fruit without excessive oak influence. The second wine is aged partly in barrels and partly in vats, then bottled at the château nearly eighteen months after the harvest. Since 2017, under the guidance of the technical team and consulting oenologist Jean-Claude Berrouet, the methods have continued to evolve in a constant pursuit of precision and elegance.

The cuvées of Château de Sales

Château de Sales (AOC Pomerol, red) is the estate's fine wine. A blend with a strong dominance of merlot, complemented by the two cabernets, it fully expresses the terroir of Pomerol: a deep colour, a nose of red and black fruits that evolves over time towards notes of roasted coffee and spices. The palate, round and fleshy, seduces with its suavity, silky tannins and beautiful length. Designed for ageing, it blossoms after several years and pairs ideally with red meats, game and slow-cooked dishes.

Château Chantalouette (AOC Pomerol, red) is the second wine of Château de Sales, drawn from a rigorous selection of lots. Often more marked by the cabernets, it reveals a lighter colour and a finer structure. Its bouquet, floral and fruity, blends peony, red fruits, a mentholated touch and a discreet vanilla oak note. Round, fresh and approachable, it can be enjoyed earlier than the fine wine and offers a seductive introduction to the world of Pomerol. Its ageing combines barrels and vats, with a light fining using egg whites that preserves the freshness of the fruit.