Who are the current owners of Château de Bel-Air and since when?

Château de Bel-Air is currently owned by Amaury, Sylvie, and Caroline de Laet Derache. Michel de Laet Derache purchased it in 2011. The estate was listed in the Féret guide as early as 1898, demonstrating its longstanding heritage in the Lalande-de-Pomerol vineyard.

What is the surface area of the Château de Bel-Air vineyard and its grape varieties?

The Château de Bel-Air vineyard covers 15.01 hectares. The grape blend is predominantly Merlot (73%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (19%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (8%). The vines, which had an average age of 44 years in 2020, are planted at a density ranging from 6,000 to 6,500 vines per hectare.

What type of soil is found in the Château de Bel-Air vineyard?

The terroir of Château de Bel-Air is characterised by gravelly and sandy soils. These soils are overlaid with gravel deposited by rivers during the Quaternary period, resting on an iron-rich subsoil with a clay base. This unique composition contributes directly to the character of these Lalande-de-Pomerol wines.

How are the vinification and ageing carried out at Château de Bel-Air?

Vinification at Château de Bel-Air is carried out in small batches in temperature-controlled concrete vats, with maceration lasting 20 to 30 days. Ageing then takes place in Bordeaux barriques for 12 to 14 months, using between 40% and 60% new oak.

Château de Bel-Air – Estate in Lalande-de-Pomerol

Bienvenue sur le site du Château de Bel-Air — © Château de Bel-Air

Overview

Château de Bel-Air is located in Lalande-de-Pomerol. Today, it is owned by Amaury, Sylvie, and Caroline de Laet Derache.

History and philosophy

The estate was mentioned as early as 1898 in the Féret guide. Michel de Laet Derache acquired it in 2011.

The appellations

Château de Bel-Air produces wines under the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation.

Practical information

Château de Bel-Air is located at 1 route de Bel Air, 33500 Lalande-de-Pomerol. Visits and tastings are available by appointment. The estate can be contacted by phone at +33 (0)6 75 76 62 23 or by email at chateau-bel-air@orange.fr. Spoken languages include French, Dutch, and English.

Find out more

Official estate website

Frequently asked questions

Who are the current owners of Château de Bel-Air and since when?: Château de Bel-Air is currently owned by Amaury, Sylvie, and Caroline de Laet Derache. Michel de Laet Derache purchased it in 2011. The estate was listed in the Féret guide as early as 1898, demonstrating its longstanding heritage in the Lalande-de-Pomerol vineyard.
What is the surface area of the Château de Bel-Air vineyard and its grape varieties?: The Château de Bel-Air vineyard covers 15.01 hectares. The grape blend is predominantly Merlot (73%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (19%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (8%). The vines, which had an average age of 44 years in 2020, are planted at a density ranging from 6,000 to 6,500 vines per hectare.
What type of soil is found in the Château de Bel-Air vineyard?: The terroir of Château de Bel-Air is characterised by gravelly and sandy soils. These soils are overlaid with gravel deposited by rivers during the Quaternary period, resting on an iron-rich subsoil with a clay base. This unique composition contributes directly to the character of these Lalande-de-Pomerol wines.
How are the vinification and ageing carried out at Château de Bel-Air?: Vinification at Château de Bel-Air is carried out in small batches in temperature-controlled concrete vats, with maceration lasting 20 to 30 days. Ageing then takes place in Bordeaux barriques for 12 to 14 months, using between 40% and 60% new oak.

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château de Bel-Air vineyard spans 15.01 hectares. It is situated south of the commune of Lalande-de-Pomerol, on a plateau sloping down towards the Barbanne river, bordering the Pomerol appellation. The soils are gravelly and sandy, blanketed with river gravels and resting on an iron-rich subsoil with a clay base (crasse de fer). The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (73%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (19%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (8%). The average age of the vines was 44 years in 2020. Planting density ranges from 6,000 to 6,500 vines per hectare, pruned using the double Guyot system. The estate practices integrated viticulture (culture raisonnée) with soil tilling or grass cover, alongside canopy management including debudding, green harvesting, and leaf stripping. Harvesting is carried out mechanically, with sorting performed both in the vineyard and at the cellar. The average yield ranges between 40 and 45 hectolitres per hectare.

Key cuvées

The average annual production is approximately 80,000 bottles.

Vinification and ageing

Vinification takes place in small batches in temperature-controlled concrete vats, with maceration lasting between 20 and 30 days. Ageing is conducted in Bordeaux barriques for 12 to 14 months, with the proportion of new oak ranging between 40% and 60%. The estate benefits from the guidance of consultant oenologists François Despagne and Thomas Duclos.

Appellation: Lalande-de-Pomerol
Commune: Lalande-de-Pomerol
Wine region: Libournais
Owner: Amaury, Sylvie et Caroline de Laet Derache
Technical direction: François Despagne
Surface area: 15.01 ha
Certifications: HVE
Grape varieties: Merlot 73%, Cabernet Franc 19%, Cabernet Sauvignon 8%