Château de Chambert

The history of Château de Chambert

Archives mention Château de Chambert as far back as the 10th century, but it was not until the 13th century that its lands were exploited, already covering 300 hectares. They surrounded the château, which was a fortified farm protected by round towers and moats. Various lords succeeded one another at the head of the estate.

Phylloxera began to devastate France's vineyards in the 19th century, and the Château de Chambert vineyard was not spared, with three-quarters of its production destroyed.

At that time, Château de Chambert belonged to Louis Bataille and his wife Mélanie. Their son, Marie Désiré Pierre Amédée Bataille would later become France's youngest general. The estate produced wine that was exported throughout Europe, as well as to America.

In 1886, a fire destroyed three-quarters of the château, and only the central part was preserved for reconstruction. The two round towers that belonged to the castle in the 16th century were not rebuilt until 1985.

In 1914, General Bataille died in the service of France, on the Vosges front. His religious sister inherited Château de Chambert, but neglected it.

It wasn't until 1973 that Marc Delgoulet, a wine merchant from Correze, fell under the spell of this immense wasteland. Every cloud has a silver lining, as the vineyard has escaped intensive cultivation and the use of chemical fertilizers. The land is pure and perfect for rebuilding a vineyard of the highest quality.

The first vintage of the new Château de Chambert was offered in 1978.

The Château de Chambert vineyard

The Château de Chambert estate comprises a total of 120 hectares of vines, land and woodland. The vineyard covers 65 hectares, 45 hectares of which directly surround the château. It is conducted biodynamically, is certified organic by Ecocert and biodynamic by Demeter and Biodyvin.

The average altitude of the vineyards is 300 meters, which produces a thermal amplitude greater than that of the plain. As a result, grapes ripen later. Scottish Highland cows are used to maintain the soil. They graze the vines in autumn and winter, and the estate's meadows in spring and summer.

All the vines belong to the AOC Cahors. The grape varieties are 80% Malbec, 17% Merlot and 3% Chardonnay.

The wines of Château de Chambert

The estate's historic cuvée bears its name, Château de Chambert. It is made entirely of Malbec from old plots.

The other cuvées are:
- Grand Vin from the estate's oldest plots, made entirely from Malbec ;
- Parcels: Cerisiers, Petite Maison and Le Puits;
- Rogomme, a curiosity made to a Quercy recipe over three hundred years old;
- Bistro wines in red, rosé and white.