Château de Sales Château de Sales

Pomerol, France

Vintage:2013 (Past)

2014 (Past) | 2015 (Past) | 2016 (Past) | 2017 (Current) | 2018 (Current) | 2019 (Current) | 2020 (Current)

Tech Sheet Download Download PDF with Scores Download PDF without Scores

Château de Sales  Château de Sales  2013

Overview

Château de Sales is the largest estate in the Pomerol appellation and has been owned by the same family for more than five hundred years. Located 35 km east of Bordeaux, the vineyard of Château de Sales is situated in the northwestern part of the Pomerol appellation.

The soils of Château de Sales are comprised of fine gravel and sand, with clay in some areas and an omnipresence of iron oxide, known locally as "crasse de fer". 

Winemaking

The vineyard of Château de Sales has a surface area of over 200 acres, with vines covering 116 acres. The vines are an average of more than 30 years old. The grape varieties planted here are typical of this appellation: 71.5% Merlot, 13.5% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. The soils of Château de Sales are comprised of fine gravel and sand, with clay in some areas and an omnipresence of iron oxide. Traditional growing methods are applied, as well as supervised control in order to reduce vine treatments (gender confusion, for instance, to avoid using insecticides) and ensure a harvest of healthy, ripe grapes. After de-stemming and crushing, alcoholic fermentation takes place in concrete tanks equipped with temperature regulation. The wine is then aged for 12-18 months in French oak barrels, of which only one third are new, in order to avoid any aggressive wood flavors and to preserve the brightness of the fruit.

Harvest Notes

2013 was a challenging year, with cold, variable weather throughout the spring and an unpredictable summer. Although many wrote off the vintage before it was tasted, a number of properties were able to produce charming wines, a testament to terroir, winemaking skill and modern technology (optical sorting machines were particularly useful). Ets Jean-Pierre Moueix are long-time proponents of small yields in order to achieve homogenous ripeness. In 2013 this philosophy proved its value: vineyards that were carefully maintained, such as the Château de Sales, produced wines that are fresh, light, fruity, and very enjoyable in their youth.

Technical Information

Varietals: 89% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon

Soil Composition: Fine gravel and sand with iron oxide

Average Vine Age: 30

Aging: 12-18 months in French oak barrels (1/3 new)