Francis et Victorien Carayon

Château La Croix Saint André

Region :
Bordeaux
APPELLATION :
Lalande-de-Pomerol

Anecdotes about the domain

All the management of our vineyards is based on observation, selection by plot, and all my attention is focused on respecting the fruit. But the whole of our harvest rests largely on SMECTITE clays. These clays, whose virtues were only recently brought to light by the work of Professor Claude Bourguignon, have contradictory characteristics: they have both draining qualities, which come from the millions of leaves of which they are composed, and retain enough moisture to protect the roots from any excessive dryness. They already compensate for excess rain or heat waves such as in 2003. They provide the best response to climatic hazards by ensuring, for today and the future, a rare perenniality in the quality of the wine of Château La Croix Saint André and the regularity of its production!

The domain's short story

The property was bought by the Carayon family in 1965. The exceptional 2015 vintage will therefore celebrate the 50 years of acquisition of this property by our family. The vineyards were managed by my father Maurice Carayon whom I succeeded in their management in 1980. Many famous clients have appreciated Château La Croix Saint André in the world of art, music and politics. For example: The Prince of Monaco, Mr. Couve de Lurville (Minister of Foreign Affairs of General de Gaulle and Prime Minister), Arthur Rubinstein (pianist), Simone de Beauvoir (writer)...

The winemaker's pride

The Château de la Croix Saint André is a family business which extends over 12 hectares on the famous terrace of Néac-Pomerol-Saint-Emilion. The great diversity of soils allows a unique taste to our wines. The soils are clayey-gravelly, clayey-siliceous with ferruginous concretions in the subsoil: the famous "crasse de fer". The vineyard is planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon. A parcel management which consists in dividing the vineyard into parcels according to the nature of the soil, the grape variety and the date of plantation is practiced on our estate in order to refine the wine and exploit all its assets. The oenologist Mr. Pascal Poussevin brings to Château La Croix Saint André all his knowledge: respect of the fruit, careful extraction of all the flavors accompanied by a very rigorous micro-oxygenation. The wine is aged in barrels (12 months), keeping the wines on fine lees, with micro-oxygenation. Thanks to these vigilant practices, we obtain a beautiful balance between wood and fruit.