“Claire Laval thinks it’s really important to work on maintaining the vineyard’s ecosystem to encourage microbiological activity in the soil.”
Soil Specificity
The soils on the Right Bank of Bordeaux are dominated by clay and limestone. The terroir and soil varies from château to château, the best vineyards have soils with limestone, clay, gravel, sand and iron deposits with some elevations, slopes and good drainage. Clay soils consists of very small particles from degraded limestone which have the ability to retain water and to allow the vines easily penetrate the soil, searching for nutrients. Merlot is the most important grape in the region, due to the clay rich terroir. Petrus is worldwide famous for its blue clay soils.
History / Ethos
Château Gombaude-Guillot is a family property established in the 19th century in the heart of the Pomerol plateau, on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. This Château is nowadays run by Claire Laval, a pioneering woman in the region. Chateau Gombaude-Guillot was one of the first chateaux in Pomerol to embrace organic farming (with the 1992 vintage). By the 2000 vintage, they moved to 100% organic farming earning their certification from Ecocert. Since the 2005 vintage, Château Gombaude-Guillot is certified biodynamic farming techniques, making classic reflections of Pomerol: rich and supple wines.
