Château Toulouze

Identity

Château Toulouze is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Vayres. Julien Pannaud is involved in the management of the vineyard.

History and philosophy

The origins of Château Toulouze date back to 1798. The estate was created following post-French Revolution land reorganisations, using parcels from Château de Vayres. Its first modern owner was Monsieur Régade. When established, the estate covered 60 hectares, a surface area that was later reduced to 30 hectares through successive inheritances. In the 1970s, Alain Cailley and his brother Yvon Cailley took over the estate. It was Alain Cailley who chose the spelling "Toulouze" to prevent any confusion with the city of Toulouse, thereby highlighting regional distinctions.

Appellations

The wines of Château Toulouze are crafted under the Graves-de-Vayres appellation.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Toulouze vineyard covers 40 hectares on the left bank of the Dordogne. The terroir is characterised by a variety of soils, including gravel, sand, clay and iron pan (crasse de fer). The average age of the vines is 30 years, with a planting density of over 5,000 vines per hectare. The grape varieties planted are Merlot, Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon and Malbec.

Flagship cuvées

The estate produces several cuvées, each with its own character. The signature wine is Château Toulouze, a red wine blending Merlot, Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon and Malbec. It is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels and has a cellaring potential of 7 to 10 years.

Another cuvée is the "Grande Cuvée Élevage en demi-muids de chêne français", a red wine introduced from the 2018 vintage. This wine is aged in French oak demi-muids, with a production of around 20,000 bottles.

Finally, the "Bleu Toulouze" cuvée is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet franc and Cabernet sauvignon. This red wine is aged for 18 months in stainless steel vats and has a cellaring potential of 5 to 7 years.

Vinification and ageing

Ageing is a crucial stage at Château Toulouze. The principal cuvée, Château Toulouze, undergoes 18 months of ageing in French oak barrels. The "Grande Cuvée Élevage en demi-muids de chêne français" is matured in French oak demi-muids, whilst the "Bleu Toulouze" cuvée is aged for 18 months in stainless steel vats.