Château Paloumey
One of the rising stars of the Haut-Medoc
The exact date of the Château Paloumey creation is unknown. This property began to make people talk about her in the early nineteenth century thanks to Octave Dupuy who by then was a wine merchant in Bordeaux. He acquired the Château Paloumey and made the improvement of the quality its own motto. A challenge that was won since 1868 when the property was classified by the Feret Guide as one of the best Crus Bourgeois.
The rest of the story was Paloumey uprooting and dark period of disease (phylloxera). So much a part of the old vineyard was turned into a gravel. The use of the latter became the more profitable procedure than the one in the wine time.
It was in 1989 that Martine Cazeneuve and her husband bought the property. That year marks the beginning of the renaissance of Château Paloumey. Since then, Martine Cazeneuve, worked hard to rebuild the vineyard as it was in its heyday and as you say there, the challenge was successfully met.
Meeting around a glass of wine with Martine Cazeneuve
From the region of Blaye, grand daughter of Charentais wine (Cognac and Pineau des Charentes) Martine Cazeneuve did not initially had an orientation to a business of the vine and wine. Indeed, exit Sup de Co Bordeaux in 1975 she chose National Education where she taught accounting and management for 18 years.
She and her husband, both driven by the entrepreneurial spirit, decided to invest in what is our regional heritage, wine. At first it was only natural that they went to the region of origin Martine. They acquired the vineyard in 1980 Maine-Gazin (7 hectares) in Plassac until 1988 when they produced about 30,000 bottles per year.
Aware that in order to make a better quality it was necessary to invest more and find more land they went looking for a larger property. After some time, tired of not finding land that met their expectations, they sold Maine Gazin to sink they thought quiet days away from the worries of weather and worries of everyday management of a vineyard .
“And there is the blues! “. The failure to produce more wine, and no longer take care of the vineyard was for them such heartbreak they departed in search of a vineyard in the Médoc limiting their research “the lure of the left coast of the Garonne river” and the Saint-Emilion. After a few visits, they finally found a nugget buried, Chateau Paloumey. Unfortunately the only thing that rested there was the beautiful mansion. The Castle waited to relive in the heart of the Medoc land.
When, in 1989, Martine Cazeneuve dares to raise the profile of the Château Paloumey, the challenge is daunting: it is no longer a vine or chai! Martine, associated with the company since 1993 Francois Charles Oberthur and advised by Daniel Llose (the winemaker of Château Lynch Bages), devoted several years of dedicated work to regroup, planting and building to revitalize the property. Still Martine Cazeneuve and his team always advised by Daniel Llose work daily to Château Paloumey a reference Haut-Médoc.
Where does the name Château Paloumey comes from?
“Paloumey” Gascon is a word that refers to the passage of pigeons every year on the property. This name was given in honor of the local culture and the “terroir” of the region are two important things to Martine Cazeneuve.
What is sought each year for the wines of Château Paloumey when they are made?
“Wines marked by finesse, elegance and balance. Wines that are not ‘bodybuilders’ “(Martine Cazeneuve). What characterizes the second wine of Château Paloumey, namely “Les Ailes de Paloumey” is an ‘easier’ to drink more fruit now.
In my view, something that also allows to recognize the wines of the property is the fact that the wines are marked by their gravelly soil thin and dry but also by regularly finesse and suave.
What is your vision of a wine grower / your passion?
“It is a profession of passion in which he must love well done / go after things / process work …. and it is long. I would tend to say it’s one of the reasons why women succeed in this business “…. “A job where one of the main important point is the ‘other’, because wine is about sharing, about conviviality.”
Side anecdote:
For the record, before arriving at this property Martine Cazeneuve favored work in the vineyard and in the winery. After a few years of experience and observation it was obvious to associate the work of men, the share that goes to natural terroir “I realized quickly that this notion is paramount and that the land should mark the wine,” insists Martine Cazeneuve. Today it is a fervent defender of the land “must be respected,” she said.
Quick detail also in the barrel room you can admire the work of the sculptor Pierre Lagénie entitled “Flight Palombes.” No need to explain why such a work in the castle, you’ll understand. A Paloumey wine and art are inseparable!
Thanks to Martine Cazeneuve for her hospitality.
Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche
Château Paloumey
50 rue Pouge de Beau
33290 Ludon-Médoc
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+33 (0)5.57.88.00.66
