Château Haut-Chaigneau

The château

André and Jeanine Chatonnet bought Haut-Chaigneau almost in ruins in 1967 and restored it little by little; the columns of its façade have since earned it the nickname of the temple of wine. The Chatonnets trace their roots in Saint-Émilion to the 15th century. Their son Pascal Chatonnet, an enologist and a consultant since 1995, has run the estate since 2008, and his daughter Clarisse, an agricultural engineer, joined him in 2024. The estate lies where 3 appellations meet, Lalande-de-Pomerol, Saint-Émilion and Montagne-Saint-Émilion, and has been converting to agrosynergy since 2019.

Château Haut-Chaigneau comes from sandy clay with iron deposits, on molasse more or less gravelly, from vines over 40 years old planted 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, made in the traditional way and aged with a moderate hand in barrel, 25% new. La Sergue, also a Lalande-de-Pomerol, is 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec from the plots La Mirande, La Margaux and La Pignière, fermented in tuns and aged with about 40% new wood. The family also makes La Croix Chaigneau, without new oak, and L’Archange, a Saint-Émilion of pure Merlot made only in the years that deserve it.

At a glance

Appellation

Lalande-de-Pomerol

Commune

Néac, where Lalande-de-Pomerol, Saint-Émilion and Montagne-Saint-Émilion meet

Classification

No classification

Owners

The Chatonnet family, since 1967

Direction

Pascal Chatonnet, since 2008; his daughter Clarisse, since 2024

Vineyard

Vines over 40 years old

Soil

Sandy clay with iron deposits, on molasse Terroir of Lalande-de-Pomerol →

Grapes

Merlot 85%, Cabernet Franc 15%

Farming

Converting to agrosynergy since 2019

Cellar

Barrels, 25% new

Wines

Château Haut-Chaigneau; La Sergue; La Croix Chaigneau; L’Archange, Saint-Émilion