Château Chauvin

Identity

Château Chauvin is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Émilion, in the Gironde département. It is owned by Sylvie Cazes and Julie Regimbeau. Technical management is overseen by Jérémie Gravier, while Julie Régimbeau also serves as Commercial and Marketing Director. Thibaut Lavielle holds the position of Chief Financial Officer.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Chauvin dates back to 1852, when the Corbin fief was partitioned. Jean Fourcaud-Laussac acquired the property that same year. In 1891, the estate was purchased by Victor Ondet. Château Chauvin has been ranked as a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé since the inaugural classification of the crus in 1954, retaining this status throughout successive revisions, including the 2012 classification.

In May 2014, Château Chauvin was acquired by the Cazes-Régimbeau family, comprising Sylvie Cazes, Julie, Pierre and François Régimbeau. From 2014 onwards, substantial work was undertaken, including an in-depth soil and subsoil survey, grubbing-up and replanting of vineyard plots, investment in modern harvesting equipment, the reinstatement of soil tillage, and the installation of a drainage system. The current technical director joined the estate in 2015. Michel Rolland provides guidance as consultant oenologist.

In January 2021, extensive renovations of the cellars began under the direction of architect Philippe Ducos. A new label for the Grand Vin, inspired by a 1929 label discovered in the archives, was also introduced.

The estate is committed to sustainable environmental practices, demonstrated by Haute Valeur Environnementale certification (HVE3-certified in 2019) and the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification. It also holds the Vignobles & Découvertes label.

Appellations

Château Chauvin produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé appellation for its Grand Vin, and Saint-Émilion Grand Cru for its second wine, Folie de Chauvin.

Flagship wines

The estate crafts two principal wines:

Château Chauvin

The estate’s Grand Vin is produced from the oldest parcels. The blend varies with each vintage, featuring a majority of Merlot supported by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is crafted to express the complexity and structure of the terroir, delivering a rich aromatic profile and excellent cellaring potential.

Folie de Chauvin

Created in 2014, this second wine is sourced from the estate’s younger vines. Characterised by a rounder, more supple profile with forward fruit notes, it is designed for earlier drinking pleasure.

Visitor information

Château Chauvin is located at 1901 route de Vachon, 33330 Saint-Émilion.

Visits and tastings are welcome at the estate. From April to October, the tasting room is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. From November to March, visits are available Monday to Friday by prior appointment. Booking in advance by email or telephone is recommended. A shared 30-minute tour, "Discovery of our wines", is available. The estate offers disabled access and visitor parking. Pets are welcome. Payment is accepted by credit/debit card or in cash.

Contact details:

• Telephone: +33 (0)5 57 24 76 25
• General enquiries: contact@chateauchauvin.com
• Tour bookings: visites@chateauchauvin.com

Further information

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Chauvin vineyard spans a contiguous 15-hectare block located north-west of the commune of Saint-Émilion. The average age of the vines is 30 years. The terroir consists of sandy-clay soils marked by the presence of pseudogley and crasse de fer (iron-rich hardpan). These soils feature low water-retention capacity, promoting early grape ripening and efficient drainage.

The grape variety distribution is dominated by Merlot (75%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%).

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Ageing is conducted in oak barrels, with varying proportions of new oak and once-used barrels. For the Château Chauvin cuvée, the ageing period typically lasts 16 months. For instance, the 2021 vintage was aged for 16 months in 50% new oak, the 2019 in 60% new oak, and the 2018 in 50% new oak and 50% once-used barrels.