Château Gazin is a family owned and operated winery of Pomerol, located in the eponymous village. This estate has been in the hands of the De Bailliencourt family since the beginning of the 20th century. It was bought in 1918 by Louis Soualle, great-grandfather of the current owners, wine merchants from the North of France. Gazin is famous for the quality if its production since a long time. The old village of Gazin already appeared on the Belleyme wine map in the 18th century. More generally, some writings attest to the creation of the Pomerol vineyard by the Knights of Maltes, of Saint John of Jerusalem and of Rhodes. For the ”anecdote”, the current chateau may be located on the old site of the ”Hospital de Pomeyrols” built by the Knights to accommodate pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela.
Today, Château Gazin extends over 26 hectares located on the clay-gravelly soils of the plateau, which makes this area one of the most extensive vineyards of the appellation. Let’s go together to meet Mickael Obert, Director and Winemaker of this winery.
What prompted you to make wine?
Mickael Obert: I may say it is not for passion for wine. My family has never made wine. I had studied biology and more specifically in agronomy (viticulture & oenology) then when I was in Montpellier I started the specialization in viticulture
and I switched my passion to wine. I landed in Bordeaux because it was the last place left on my journey. Here we find the sea, the sun and wines. Before Gazin I worked for different chateaux of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion. Wine for me is conviviality and an opportunity for people to find the preferred wine combined to taste at each price. It’s a vast world.
Where does the name Gazin come from?
M.O.: Gazin was a village in the 18th century, a site dedicated to accommodating pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Vines had been introduced here in the 12th century, certainly by monks. The terroir is located between the vineyards of the Château L’Evangile and Pétrus, indeed the wine produced here has long been called “the little Petrus”. Today the vineyard covers an area of 24 hectares mostly planted on the famous clay-gravel plateau of Pomerol. In the past “we had been what is now a current part of Petrus”, we sold them four and half hectares in 1969.
If you had to define in a few words what wine represents for you?
M.O.: Elegance, humanity and generosity.
What is the peculiarity/ characteristics of the terroir?
M.O.: 93% of our surface is planted with merlot. We are located on the north-east of the Pomerol village and this area is mostly characterized by clays. We have a few hectares at different heights rich in sand, graves and deeper soils, this terroir is more suitable for cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon.
What is the signature of your wines?
M.O.: In recent years, the reading of the market forced us to reflect, excessive use of new barrels is not needed. Young people are looking for more fruit and drinkability, so they don’t want to wait, to age bottles. Fortunately, this is an approach that we have never abandoned. With a presence of at least 85% of merlot, the most important thing for a Pomerol is the balance; you get roundness and charm, between flowers and fruits. I have been here for 15 years and I can say that it is the perfect place for merlot rather than for cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc.
Do you have any new projects or anecdotes of Gazin?
M.O.: It’s difficult to set up new investments in Pomerol moreover this propriety is ancient. The building is dated back to the 18th century. The lieu-dit where we are, exists since long time… We want to continue the tradition, to keep our family spirit…
Thank you to Mickaël Obert and his team for hosting. – J.C.C.
Château Gazin
33500 Pomerol (France)
www.gazin.com
