Château Vieux Maillet 1980

Since 2004, Château Vieux Maillet has been owned by the Lavale family, who also own Châteaux Lussac and Franc Mayne. The domaine has experienced a revival of sorts since the arrival of Hervé and Griet Lavale in 2004, with highlights being the construction of a new vat room and the expansion of the vineyard. Château Vieux Maillet is located on the eastern edge of Pomerol, near to Saint Emilion. The soils of the domaine exhibit great diversity, with brown gravel earth, clayey molasse with iron residues and sandy-clay soils on deep gravel. A sustainable pest control approach is used to manage the vineyards, which produce around 30,000 bottles a year.

Merlot is the dominant grape, accounting for 90% of the vineyard area, compared to 10% Cabernet Franc. The château produces a suave wine typical of its appellation, with a bouquet of truffle and red berries. It has firm tannins and a meaty, velvety, elegant character. Its wines are drinkable in the first flushes of youth, but can also be kept for a number of years.