Chauché Noir is a grape variety whose Bordeaux history remains to be explored, although it was historically present in the Charentes and Poitou regions. Nineteenth-century ampelographers such as Odart and Pulliat highlighted its characteristics, with Odart even comparing it to the Jura's Trousseau in terms of ampelographical kinship. It also appears under the name "Chaussé noir" in the inventories made by Nicolas Dupré de Saint-Maur between 1782 and 1784 in Bazas, testifying to its antiquity.

Even more intriguing, a contemporary document from the subdélégation of Pauillac claimed that "Chaussé" produced "the best wine in the Médoc. Black, of good quality, low-yielding, its fruit is crisp and the best in the Médoc". While fluctuating spelling makes formal confirmation challenging, this glowing description is nonetheless an indicator of its qualitative potential. This historical and ampelographical quest lies at the heart of Château Cazebonne's approach to reviving Bordeaux's forgotten grape varieties. For this research and the study of Bordeaux grape varieties, works such as "Bordeaux, une histoire de cépages" by Jean-Baptiste Duquesne prove invaluable, as do studies on the Petit Péjac grape variety, the Gros Cabernet grape variety and the Penouille grape variety, not to mention the Cabernet Goudable grape variety or the Gascon grape variety and the Txakoli grape variety.

Ampelographical profile

Characteristic	Description
Budburst	Early (1 day after Chasselas)
Ripening	Early (first epoch, one and a half weeks after Chasselas)
Vigour	Moderate to high
Growth habit	Upright
Downy mildew susceptibility	Medium
Powdery mildew susceptibility	Medium to high
Aromatic profile	Fruity (red fruit) and spicy notes
Winemaking potential	Supple, fruity wines with low tannins

This meticulous replanting work is the result of a shared passion and invaluable support from the many wine lovers who have embraced our cuvées. To deepen your knowledge of this fascinating viticultural history, you can download the digital edition of our book on the history of Bordeaux grape varieties. Furthermore, we invite you to test your knowledge of Bordeaux wines with our wine quizzes, and of course, to discover the culmination of this approach and taste our wines crafted from these rediscovered varieties.