Château Paloumey

Identity

Château Paloumey is a family-owned winegrowing estate located in Ludon-Médoc, in the Gironde department. It is managed by Pierre Cazeneuve alongside Martine Cazeneuve. Pascal Lamarque serves as cellar master, with Daniel Llose acting as consultant oenologist. The estate is classified Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Paloumey dates back to the 1868 Féret classification, under the stewardship of its historical founder, Octave Dupuy. After disappearing in the 1950s, the vineyard was revived in 1989 by Martine Cazeneuve. Today, the estate is committed to environmental stewardship and its local heritage, with a philosophy centred on crafting wines while preparing for the future. It is recognised as an independent winegrower (vigneron indépendant) and holds the Vignobles et Découvertes label.

Appellations

Château Paloumey produces wines under several appellations, predominantly Haut-Médoc. It also holds plots in the Margaux and Moulis (or Moulis-en-Médoc) appellations.

Practical information

Château Paloumey is located at 50 rue Pouge de Beau, 33290 Ludon-Médoc. For inquiries, the estate can be contacted on +33 5 57 88 00 66. The tasting cellar is open Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 18:00. The estate offers visitor experiences designed to be educational and engaging, featuring varied tours and tastings, including a blind vertical tasting, an introduction to wine tasting, Terroir tours (4 wines, Gourmet option), a Nature & Future tour, a blending workshop and a wine & cocktail workshop. The estate can host groups of 5 to 35 people and is accessible to persons with reduced mobility. Languages spoken include French, English and Spanish. Available amenities include coach parking, a park, pet-friendly facilities, an on-site and online shop, drive-through/collection, delivery and Wi-Fi. Payment methods accepted include payment cards, holiday vouchers (chèques vacances) and cash.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Paloumey vineyard spans a total area of 38 hectares. The property's soils consist of Quaternary Garonne gravel, sands and Rissian deposits, alongside silica-gravel layers on a plot acquired in Cussac in 2004, gravel and marly clay on the Moulis terroirs, and gravel, sand and pebbles across the Margaux terroirs. The average planting density is 7,200 vines per hectare.

The estate's grape varieties comprise 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. In addition, the estate is conducting trials with the planting of three varieties of Petit Verdot, including a massal selection, to assess their potential for adapting to climate change. Vineyard management practices include the use of Bordeaux mixture against downy mildew. The estate is certified organic (Agriculture Biologique).

Signature cuvées

The estate produces several red cuvées. The flagship wine, Château Paloumey, is a Cru Bourgeois characterised by freshness, generous fruit and fine length on the palate. Another cuvée, Ailes de Paloumey, is the estate’s second wine, distinguished by a higher proportion of Merlot in its blend.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting is carried out either by hand or mechanically.