Château Moncets

The château

Moncets was created in 1770 and takes its name from General de Moncets, who bought it in 1872. The house is of the 18th century, set in a park that has stood for more than a century, and it is the oldest vineyard of the group that owns it today. A family company bought Moncets in 2012, and in 2015 the vineyard and the cellar were rebuilt from top to bottom, the same year the owners bought Château de Chambrun, also at Néac. From that base the group has grown to 5 estates: Moncets and Chambrun, La Bastidette and La Voûte around Saint-Émilion, and Pontac Monplaisir in Pessac-Léognan, its first on the left bank. Julien Noël is managing director, Bruno Chaminade cellar master and Nicolas Ballet vineyard manager.

The vineyard lies in a single block over 3 hills facing east, west and south, and the changing exposures give it a patchwork of small climates. The soil is dark clay, the kind that suits Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the estate plants each where it belongs: Merlot on deep black clay with iron oxide in the subsoil and gravel on top, Cabernet Franc on sandy clay. Vines stand at about 6,000 to the hectare. The estate turned to organic farming in 2018; it sows cover crops of cereals, legumes and crucifers between the rows and lets its own Ouessant sheep graze them. The grapes come into the cellar by gravity. The 2020 is 73% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 12 months in French oak, one third of it new, with 10 different toasts from 4 coopers.

Lalande-de-Pomerol often flies under the radar, and it deserves everyone’s attention. The 2020 Moncets, which I tasted with something on the grill in July 2025, makes the case: juicy plum and berries, a hint of spice, the plush texture of Pomerol and plenty of youthful energy.

At a glance

Appellation

Lalande-de-Pomerol

Commune

Néac

Classification

No classification

Owners

Les Domaines de Moncets, a family company, since 2012

Direction

Julien Noël, managing director; Bruno Chaminade, cellar master; Nicolas Ballet, vineyard manager

Vineyard

A single block on 3 hills facing east, west and south; about 6,000 vines a hectare

Soil

Dark clay: Merlot on deep black clay with iron oxide below and gravel on top; Cabernet Franc on sandy clay Terroir of Lalande-de-Pomerol →

Grapes

Merlot and Cabernet Franc; the 2020: Merlot 73%, Cabernet Franc 21%, Cabernet Sauvignon 6%

Farming

Organic farming, from 2018; cover crops; the estate’s own Ouessant sheep graze the rows

Cellar

Gravity; the 2020: 12 months in French oak, one third new, 10 toasts from 4 coopers

Wines

Château Moncets

The house

A château of the 18th century, renovated, in a park more than a century old

In history

Created in 1770; bought by General de Moncets in 1872