Château Chillac

The Château has been in the family since the 1870s. From an initial 1.69 ha, the estate now covers just over 55 ha. To be in complete harmony with our environment and to make the land healthier, we have been farming organically for several years, and to be even more virtuous, we also practice Biodynamics. We produce AOP Bordeaux red wines, wines with no added sulfites, vin nature and vin orange. THE VINEYARD Château Chillac is a hillside château dating back to the Middle Ages, which has seen several owners and periods of pillage. Today, a dovecote, loopholes, the remains of a Levi bridge, stone columns, towers, carved doors and a chapel door are among the many vestiges left of this prosperous era. Today, a beautiful stone residence remains, with its outbuildings, tower and winery forming an enclosure. Numerous legends about the château have been passed down from generation to generation. Vineyards, woods and meadows have always surrounded Chillac, and today the château belongs to Christelle, Laurent and their two daughters Charlotte and Anne. CHÂTEAU CHILLAC The vineyard has been in the family for several generations. Initially, the château comprised 1 ha 67 a of vines. Today, we cultivate just over 55 ha of vines, 35 ha of cereals and a few woods. Each generation has made its contribution by renovating and maintaining the buildings. We are determined to continue this project, and year after year we continue to carry out work to make Chillac even more welcoming. CHÂTEAU QUILLET In 2013, the acquisition of Château Quillet, a wine-growing estate near the village of Morizès, extended our territory. At first glance, it doesn't look like a chalet, but that's the name Morizéens have long since chosen for the house, which doesn't go unnoticed with its bands of red brick on the facade, helping to create a unique personality in this vineyard landscape. Legend has it that, in Gallo-Roman times, the village of Morizès was located on the site of Quillet, and that a plague epidemic forced the inhabitants to flee to the valley. Perhaps because of its elevated position, with a 360° view over the Morizès hills and the Garonne valley. Today, a dozen hectares benefit from the diversity of the terroir and the wide temperature range between morning mists and sunny afternoons, optimizing the ripeness of the grapes that have been added to the family's vineyards. THE VINEYARD A multitude of soils make up our plots. Sometimes clayey-limestone, sometimes sandy, sometimes stony, with maximum exposure to the sun to achieve the right ripeness, we carefully exploit the qualities of all natural inputs to produce a wine as close to nature as possible. "Respect your vine and it will respect you back. These are the values passed on from Guy to his son Laurent. Taste, love and respect for work, from planting to maturing our wines in our cellars. ORGANIC FARMING AND BIODYNAMICS The vineyard is in complete harmony with its surroundings. We replant hedges and trees every year to encourage biodiversity. Sowing cereals in the rows to compete with the grass, reducing the number of mechanical passages: many decisions are taken to contribute to a healthier soil. The management of humus, water and organic matter is also a priority, to maximize the soil's microbial life. Concerned about our land and its future, we are constantly evolving to live as close to nature as possible. ENCÉPAGEMENT Reds : Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Malbec Petit Verdot White wines : Semillon Sauvignon blanc Sauvignon gris Muscadelle LE CHAI The vats are thermo-regulated, made of concrete and stainless steel. The number of vats enables us to make the most of the aromas of each plot before blending. We do not sulfite our wines during vinification, and depending on the market we may or may not add a little sulfur before bottling. For many long weeks, we accompany the elaboration and ageing of our wines in our cellars, in a soothing, calm atmosphere that rewards the year's hard work of our team. A Canadian well has recently been installed in our bottle cellar to ensure even humidity and air quality throughout the year. We are constantly evolving, and every year we receive numerous training courses and certifications to complement our work (BIO, DEMETER, HVE, SME, NOP, RSE...). Christelle and Laurent