Château des Moines
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Château des Moines is a family-owned winegrowing estate in Lalande-de-Pomerol. It produces wines in Lalande-de-Pomerol and Bordeaux. Certified HVE, the estate is renowned for its traditional cuvées and its amphora-aged Malbec cuvée.
Identity
Château des Moines is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Lalande-de-Pomerol in Gironde. It is currently owned by Patrick Merle, who partnered with Jean Darnajou in 2004 to establish the SCEA du Château des Moines. The Darnajou family has been rooted in these lands for several generations.
History and philosophy
The family history of Château des Moines began before 1940, when William Darnajou's father, a cooper, farmed various crops on this land. In the 1940s, William and Léontine Darnajou took over the farm. Their son, Henri Darnajou, developed the viticultural side of the estate from 1960 onwards. During this period, the wines were initially sold in bulk, and later in bottle.
In 1994, Jean Darnajou took over management of the estate alongside his mother, Colette Darnajou. He modernised the facilities, notably introducing temperature control and a pneumatic press. In 2004, Jean Darnajou joined forces with Patrick Merle to found the SCEA du Château des Moines.
The estate is committed to environmentally friendly practices, achieving Level 3 Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification in 2019. A partnership was established with Le Rucher d’Aristée, a local beekeeper, to install beehives on the property.
Appellations
Château des Moines produces wines under the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation. The new vines acquired in 2024 come under the Bordeaux appellation.
Practical information
Château des Moines is located at 3 Rue de Musset, 33500 Lalande-de-Pomerol.
The estate welcomes visitors by appointment for guided tours and paid tastings, including for groups (up to 20 people). The cellar door is open at weekends by reservation. Pets are not allowed.
Contact:
- Telephone: +33 5 57 51 40 41
- Email: contact@chateaudesmoines.com or chateaudesmoines@orange.fr
Accepted payment methods: Payment cards, cash, Carte Bleue.
Languages spoken for tours: French, English, German.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- What is the size of the vineyard and what are its main grape varieties?
- The vineyard at Château des Moines covers an area of approximately 20 hectares. It is predominantly planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Recent acquisitions have brought the total surface area to 25 hectares, further diversifying the parcels cultivated on the estate.
- What are the characteristics of the terroir at Château des Moines?
- The terroir of Château des Moines is primarily clay-gravel. It features dry gravel as well as gravelly clay-loam soils, some displaying traces of iron oxide. These diverse soil compositions contribute to the complexity and typicity of the wines produced at the estate.
- Is the estate committed to environmental practices?
- Yes, Château des Moines is committed to environmentally friendly practices. The estate achieved Level 3 Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification in 2019. Furthermore, a partnership with a local beekeeper led to the installation of beehives on the property, highlighting their dedication to biodiversity.
- Which appellations are produced at Château des Moines?
- Château des Moines mainly produces wines under the Lalande-de-Pomerol appellation. Following recent vineyard acquisitions, the estate also produces wines under the Bordeaux appellation. These two appellations represent the core of the estate's production.
The vineyard (terroir)
The Château des Moines vineyard spans an area of approximately 20 hectares. The soils are described as clay-gravel, including dry gravel and gravelly clay-loam with traces of iron oxide. In 2024, the estate acquired an additional 5 hectares of vines.
The grape varieties planted in the vineyard primarily include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec.
Signature cuvées
The estate offers several cuvées, including Château des Moines, Château des Moines Prestige, and Château des Moines Malbec.
The main cuvée, Château des Moines, is crafted from a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. It is characterised by dry gravel and gravelly clay-loam soils with traces of iron oxide.
Château des Moines Prestige is sourced from specific parcels. It is predominantly Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The soils for this cuvée are similar to those of the main wine.
Château des Moines Malbec is a single-variety cuvée, made exclusively from Malbec. It comes from a plot of approximately 1 hectare featuring dry gravel and gravelly clay-loam soils with traces of iron oxide.
Vinification and ageing
Harvesting at Château des Moines is carried out mechanically. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats. The wines are aged in barrels. For the Château des Moines cuvée, ageing takes place in oak barrels for 12 months. The Château des Moines Prestige cuvée benefits from 18 months of ageing in new oak barrels. Château des Moines Malbec is aged in amphorae for 18 months.
- Appellations
- Lalande-de-Pomerol, Bordeaux
- Commune
- Lalande-de-Pomerol
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Owner
- William et Léontine Darnajou
- Surface area
- 20 ha
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec
Practical information
- Address
- 3 Rue de Musset, 33500 Lalande de Pomerol
- Phone
- 05 57 51 40 41
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Opening hours
- Ouvert du 05-01-2026 au 31-12-2026