Château de Sales Château de Sales
Pomerol, France
Vintage:2019 (Current)
2015 (Past) | 2016 (Past) | 2017 (Past) | 2018 (Past) | 2020 (Current) | 2021 (Current)
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Reviews
90 Points
“The 2019 Château de Sales has an open-knit bouquet with red cherries and crushed strawberry fruit, not quite as complex as its peers. The palate is medium-bodied, somewhat old school in style with dry tannins and a structured finish. Fine backbone here, an impressive retro 2019! One of the best vintages in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
“This powerful wine with layers of new wood and dense black fruits is setting out for serious aging. It comes from one of the largest estates in Pomerol, less well known than it should be. Drink this wine that has great potential from 2026.”
The Wine Independent 90 Points
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 de Sales features ripe, juicy plums, blackberry preserves, and fruitcake notes with hints of tar and underbrush. Medium-bodied, it has a lively backbone and chewy tannins supporting the juicy black fruits, finishing earthy.”
Wine Spectator 90 Points
“A stylish, understated wine, featuring gentle cherry, raspberry, incense and savory notes that glide through easily, with the savory note lingering on the silky finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028.”
JamesSuckling.com 93 Points
“A combination of floral and earthy character here, with aromas of ripe dark and blue fruit and hints of licorice, nut shell and wet earth. Cigar box, too. Medium-bodied, chewy and lingering with bright, vibrant fruit. It has a firm, savory finish with hints of crushed stones. Very typical and true to its terroir. Try after 2024.”
Decanter 96 Points
“A serious, brooding nose, darkly seductive with touches of sweet oak and black berries. Alive and fruit forward on the palate but also quite linear and direct. The instant generosity of fruit flavours is really appealing, the mouth is filled with bright summer berry touches and the tannins are ample and supple coating the tongue yet this still has an aerial quality. Feels suave and charming - well worked with lots of precise details with such a minty fresh finish. Excellent ageing potential.”
Overview
Built in the 17th century, Château de Sales is largest estate in the Pomerol appellation on the Right Bank. The château possesses exceptional beauty and elegance, and the same is true for its wines as they are the true expression of the Pomerol terroir from which they orginate. Located in the northwest corner of Pomerol, it is the only true château building in the appellation and has been owned by the same family for more than five hundred years.
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". 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.
Winemaking
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.
Tasting Notes
A deep garnet red, the wine has a refined nose with elegant light oak and aromas of ripe fruit, especially blackcurrant. Complex on the palate, with black fruit, blackberry and spice flavors, it has silky tannins, good body and lovely balance, ending on a long and harmonious finish of great refinement.
Harvest Notes
Following a mild and humid winter, the vines budded early. Two frosts occurred on May 5th and 6th, but without affecting the vineyard of Château de Sales too much. The unique terroir of the property limited the water stress caused by summer heat waves. The harvest began on September 20th and ended on October 10th, yielding fruit with the promise of a great vintage.
Technical Information
Varietals: 72.5% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% Cabernet Franc
New Oak: 15% new French oak barrels, 85% barrels from 1 to 3 previous wines
Aging: 12-18 months in French oak barrels (1/3 new)