Château la Croix de Gay
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Château La Croix de Gay, a family-owned estate in Pomerol, is renowned for its red wines crafted predominantly from Merlot, grown on clay-gravel soils. The estate follows environmentally friendly viticultural practices, certified HVE3, and ages its wines in oak barrels.
Identity
Château La Croix de Gay is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Pomerol, in the Gironde department. The estate is owned by the Raynaud-Lebreton family, with Chantal Lebreton-Raynaud serving as managing director. Jean-Paul Da Silva is the cellar master, and the estate works alongside Axel Marchal and Michel Rolland as consulting oenologists.
History and philosophy
The history of the Barraud family, founders of the estate, dates back to the 15th century, with land acquired as early as 1477. In the 19th century, the estate's wines were highly renowned, with prices sometimes exceeding those of certain 1855 Crus Classés. From 1947 to 1997, the property was managed by the Raynaud family. The current owners took over in 1998. Château La Croix de Gay is committed to environmental standards with its HVE3 certification.
Appellations
Château La Croix de Gay produces wines under the Pomerol appellation.
Practical information
Château La Croix de Gay is located at 8, chemin Saint Jacques de Compostelle - lieu-dit Pignon, 33500 Pomerol. For enquiries, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 51 19 05 or by email at contact@chateau-lacroixdegay.com.
The tasting room and shop are open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, as well as on Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Group tastings are available by appointment only. Direct cellar-door sales and mail-order options are available.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Château La Croix de Gay located?
- Château La Croix de Gay is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Pomerol, in the Gironde department. Its vineyard is situated in the hamlet of Pignon, a historic village within the appellation. The exact address is 8, chemin Saint Jacques de Compostelle, lieu-dit Pignon, 33500 Pomerol.
- Who owns Château La Croix de Gay?
- Château La Croix de Gay is owned by the Raynaud-Lebreton family. The estate is currently managed by Chantal Lebreton-Raynaud. The family's connection to the estate dates back to the 15th century, with land purchases recorded as early as 1477, although management by the Raynaud family began in 1947 before the current owners took over in 1998.
- What are the characteristics of the terroir and grape varieties at Château La Croix de Gay?
- The Château La Croix de Gay vineyard covers 6.2 hectares. Its terroir features clay-gravel and sandy-gravel soils resting on a subsoil rich in iron pan, ancient rubified gravels (Günz), and pure blue clay. Limousin quartz and flints are also present. The grape blend is heavily dominated by Merlot (92% or 93%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (7%, 8% or 5%), with vines averaging 30 years of age.
- Does Château La Croix de Gay hold any environmental certifications?
- Yes, Château La Croix de Gay is committed to environmental stewardship and holds HVE3 certification (Haute Valeur Environnementale Level 3). This reflects its eco-friendly viticultural practices, including the absence of synthetic chemicals for soil cultivation, the use of mating disruption against pests, and carefully targeted, observation-based plant protection treatments.
The vineyard (terroir)
The vineyard of Château La Croix de Gay covers a planted surface area of 6.2 hectares. It is situated in the hamlet of Pignon, a historic village in Pomerol. The soils are composed of ancient rubified gravels (Günz) and pure blue clay, with clay-gravel and sandy-gravel compositions resting on a subsoil rich in iron pan (crasse de fer). Limousin quartz, as well as black and blond Périgord flints, are also found here. The grape variety proportions are dominated by Merlot (92% or 93%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (7%, 8% or 5%). The average age of the vines is 30 years, and the planting density is 6,000 vines per hectare.
Viticultural practices include debudding, leaf-thinning, and green harvesting. Soil management is carried out mechanically or through cover cropping, without the use of synthetic chemicals. Mating disruption is employed to combat the grape berry moth, and no insecticides are used. Treatments against downy mildew and powdery mildew are kept to a minimum and guided by careful observation. The estate is also a member of the Libournais G.D.O.N (Groupement de Défense contre les Organismes Nuisibles).
Flagship cuvées
The estate produces two main red wine cuvées: Château La Croix de Gay and Château La Fleur de Gay. These wines stand out for their quintessential appellation character, typically displaying a rich aromatic profile and a palate structure primed for ageing.
Vinification and ageing
Harvesting is carried out by hand, with grapes collected in small crates. A double sorting process takes place, first in the vineyard and then in the vat room before and after destemming. Transfer to vats is carried out by gravity following gentle crushing of the berries. Ageing lasts 18 months in oak barrels, with around 50% new wood. Annual production stands at approximately 20,000 to 25,000 bottles.
- Appellation
- Pomerol
- Commune
- Pomerol
- Wine region
- Libournais
- Classification
- Pomerol (sans classement officiel)
- Owner
- Famille Raynaud-Lebreton
- Technical direction
- Jean-Paul Da Silva
- Surface area
- 4.2 ha
- Second wine
- Château La Fleur de Gay
- Certifications
- HVE
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 92%, Cabernet Franc 8%
Practical information
- Address
- 8, chemin Saint Jacques de Compostelle, 33500 Pomerol
- Phone
- +33557511905
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Opening hours
- Lundi au vendredi de 9h à 12h et de 13h30 à 15h30. Samedi de 9h à 12h.
- Visits
- Les propriétaires proposent des dégustations de groupe, sur réservation.