Chateau La Croix de Gay Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau La Croix de Gay Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau La Croix de Gay History, Overview

Chateau La Croix de Gay has a long history in the Pomerol appellation. But the owners of the vineyard, the Raynaud-Lebreton family have an even longer history in Bordeaux dating back to 1477!

The official estate dates back to at least the mid-1800s as wine was produced from the vineyard in 1772.

Later in the 19th century, the property was known to have produced not only their own wine but for some reason, the wine of Chateau Certan de May was also made at the property for a period of time.

Chateau La Croix de Gay was one of the first Pomerol properties to bottle at least some of their production at the estate. This took place in the mid to late 1800s! From that point forward, through small purchases from other vineyards, La Croix de Gay slowly grew in size.

However, the modern era for Chateau La Croix de Gay begins in the late 1960s, when the owners obtained land that was being used for the production of Pignon de Gay.

In the 1970s, the future consultant Alain Raynaud, who was born at the estate began to take part in the production of the wine.

While Alain Raynaud maintained an increasing role at La Croix de Gay, the property was managed by his father, Noel Raynaud until his death in 1997. In time, Alain Raynaud would sell his interests in La Fleur de Gay and La Croix de Gay.

Today, the estate remains in the hands of the Raynaud and Lebreton families. Starting in 1998, Chantal Lebreton took over managing the estate and the winemaking after her father Noel Raynaud passed away.

Over the years, like many estates in the Right Bank, the vineyard has changed in size. Most recently, it’s becoming smaller.

The first significant change took place in 1982 when they began producing La Fleur de Gay from the estate’s oldest vines located in a 3-hectare parcel with deep gravel and clay soils in their vineyard. In 2012, the estate sold a large portion of their vineyards to the owners of Chateau L’Evangile. 

Located in the northern portion of the Pomerol appellation, Chateau La Croix de Gay has good neighbors. The Right Bank chateau is located not too far from Chateau Clinet or LEglise Clinet on the Pomerol plateau.

In 1997 the estate modernized its wine-making facilities and added temperature-controlled vats. In June 2012, the owners of Chateau Lafite Rothschild purchased 6 hectares of vines from La Croix de Gay allowing them to expand the holdings of Chateau L’Evangile.

The owners of Chateau La Croix de Gay built a new cellar for the fermentation and vinification of their wine that was completed in 2015.

Chateau La Croix de Gay Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 4.2-hectare vineyard of Chateau La Croix de Gay is planted to 86% Merlot and 14% Cabernet Franc. This shows a change in the vineyard as now you find more Cabernet Franc planted here.

The vineyard is divided into 10 separate parcels. The terroir is gravel, sand, and clay soils. The vines are on average close to 30 years of age. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 5,000 vines per hectare.

The wine of Chateau La Croix de Gay is vinified in 10, tulip-shaped, temperature-controlled, concrete vats that correspond to their 10 parcels of vines. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of French oak barrels and tanks.

The wine of Chateau La Croix de Gay is aged in 50% new, French oak barrels for an average of 18 months. There is a second wine, which is not made every year, Commandeur de Croix de Gay. On average, close to 1,600 cases of wine are produced each vintage.

The best vintages of Chateau La Croix de Gay are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2001, and 2000.

When to Drink Chateau La Croix de Gay, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau La Croix de Gay can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour to 90 minutes. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau La Croix de Gay is usually better with at least 4-6 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau La Croix de Gay offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 4-15 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau La Croix de Gay with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau La Croix de Gay is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau La Croix de Gay is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau La Croix de Gay is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

The family also previously owned Chateau Faizeau in the satellite appellation of Montagne St. Emilion.

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