Château Belles-Graves

Identity

Château Belles-Graves is a winegrowing estate located in Néac, in Gironde. It is managed by Xavier Piton, owner and winemaker, representing the third generation of the Theallet family, who has owned the property since 1938. Laurent Paulin serves as Associate Director and Head of Customer Relations, and Henri Barthe is the vineyard manager.

History and philosophy

The estate's origins date back to the 15th century under the name Domaine de Drouilleau. The main buildings were constructed during the 18th century. In 1938, Jean Theallet acquired the property, which was then renamed Château Belles-Graves. Following his passing in 1964, Hermine Theallet took over the management of the estate.

In 1973, joint ownership of the estate was transferred to their daughters, Marie-France and Christine. The Société Civile d'Exploitation du Château Belles-Graves was founded in 1989, a year also marked by a 2.5-hectare expansion of the vineyard. GFA Theallet Piton was established in 1995. A further expansion took place in 1998 with an additional 1.75 hectares, followed by a final acquisition of 0.55 hectares in 2005. The 2000s saw the beginning of significant renovation works on the château and winery buildings, as well as the creation of a French-style garden in 2001 and the opening of guest rooms in 2002.

The estate practices sustainable viticulture and holds HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification.

The appellations

Château Belles-Graves produces wines under the Lalande-de-Pomerol AOP appellation.

Winemaking and ageing

Harvesting is carried out both by hand and by machine. A sorting table is used to ensure rigorous grape selection in the cellar. Fermentation is temperature-controlled, followed by malolactic fermentation. The grapes are completely destemmed.

In 2018, the vat room was modernised with the installation of 9 double-walled stainless steel vats featuring automated temperature control. Ageing of the grand vin, Château Belles-Graves, takes place for 12 months in oak barrels. The barrels used are new, one-wine, or two-wines old. During ageing, operations such as quarterly racking, weekly topping up, and egg-white fining are carried out. Filtration is not systematic, thanks to micro-oxygenation in barrel.

Practical information

Château Belles-Graves is located at 1 Allée de Belles-Graves, 33500 Néac. For enquiries, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 51 09 61 or by email at x.piton@belles-graves.com. A fax line is also available on +33 (0)5 57 51 01 41.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Belles-Graves spans 17 hectares, including a main 12-hectare enclosure located on the Drouilleau hill. Arranged in a crescent from east to west, the vineyard faces the estates of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. The hillside soils are clay-gravel, overlying a subsoil rich in iron oxides, locally known as "graves rouges" or "crasse de fer". The subsoil features alternating permeable layers (coarse sand and gravel mixed with red clay) and compact blue clay layers. To the north, the soils are clay-silt, also showing iron pan deposits. The plateau features gravel with a predominance of flint.

The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (88%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (12%).

Flagship cuvées

The estate offers several red wine cuvées, all under the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation.

Château Belles-Graves

The estate's flagship wine, crafted predominantly from Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc. This wine is aged in oak barrels for 12 months. It is crafted for extended cellaring.

Les Terrasses de Belles-Graves

This cuvée is a blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Ageing takes place in vats. This wine offers a more approachable profile and is designed to be enjoyed in its youth.

La Cuvée « X »

This limited-edition cuvée is predominantly made from Merlot. It is aged in oak barrels of selected provenance. Vintages produced include 2016, 2018, and 2019.