Learn everything about Chateau La Croix du Casse Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairings. Learn the best vintages, the history of the property, and 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 du Casse History, Overview
Chateau La Croix du Casse was purchased by Philippe Casteja in 2005. Casteja bought the estate from the Audy family, who bought the vineyard in 1956. The Audy was better known for owning the reknown Chateau Clinet.
The Casteja family were experienced chateau owners and negociants with estates on both banks, including another Pomerol estate, Domaine de l’Eglise.
Since his purchase in 2005, Philippe Casteja has continued to make improvements in the cellars and Pomerol vineyards of Chateau La Croix du Casse. In the cellars, aging concrete vats were replaced with stainless steel and the vineyards received a new drainage system. The results began to show with the quality of wine found in the 2009 vintage. Thomas Duclos acts as the consultant.
Chateau La Croix du Casse Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 13-hectare, Pomerol vineyard of Chateau La Croix du Casse is planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This higher percentage of Merlot is a change for the estate as they previously had 10% of their vines planted to Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Right Bank, Bordeaux vineyard of Chateau La Croix du Casse is situated on the southern edge of the plateau of Pomerol, not that far from Chateau Taillefer. The terroir is sand, gravel, and some iron deposits in the soil. Their vineyards are divided into 9 parcels. On average, the vines are 30 years of age. The vines are planted to a vine density of 7,000 vines per hectare.
The wine of Chateau La Croix du Casse is vinified in small, stainless, steel, temperature-controlled vats that range in size from 50 hectoliters to 100 hectoliters. The Merlot is vinified in the larger vats and the Cabernet Franc is placed into the 50 hectoliter tanks.
The wine is aged in 40% new, French oak barrels for between 12 to 16 months. After barrel aging, the wine is placed back into vats for an additional 4 months of aging with the goal of reducing the effects of too much new oak. The average annual production of Chateau La Croix du Casse is close to 3,000 cases of Bordeaux wine per year. There is a second wine, Domaine du Casse.
Chateau La Croix du Casse produces a medium-bodied, lighter style of Pomerol wine that is best enjoyed in its youth, by the time it hits 10-12 years of age.
The best vintages of Chateau La Croix du Casse are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005, 2001, 2000 and 1998. However, since 2015, the wine being produced here has taken a big leap up in quality, while prices have remained consumer-friendly.
The Casteja family, along with their negociant arm owns several other Bordeaux estates including Chateau Trotte Vieille in St. Emilion, Chateau Batailley in Pauillac, and another value-priced Pomerol estate, Domaine de L’Eglise.
When to Drink Chateau La Croix du Casse, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau La Croix du Casse can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for between 1-2 hours. 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 du Casse is usually better with at least 4-5 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau La Croix du Casse offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 5-15 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Chateau La Croix du Casse with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Chateau La Croix du Casse 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 du Casse 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 du Casse is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
Château La Croix du Casse Wine Tasting Notes
17 Vintages 68,149 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
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2023
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Plums, cocoa, herbs, and flowers form the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, juicy, fruity, soft-textured, forward, upbeat, and already charming in your glass, with its minty, plummy, and cocoa endnote. The wine blends 96% Merlot, with 4% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2026-2038. 90-92 Pts. 1,006 Views Tasted May 4, 2024 |
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2022
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Flowers, mushrooms, black cherries, mint leaves, and cocoa are at the center of this wine, on the nose, and on the medium-bodied, elegant, soft, round, polished, fruity palate. I like the softness, lift and refinement here, as well as the powdered chocolate in the finish. The wine blends 97% Merlot with 3% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2042. 91-93 Pts. 1,916 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
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2020
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
With aromas of flowers, black cherries, espresso and a hint of blue fruit, the wine is soft, silky, fresh and polished, with ample lift, chocolate and ripe, black cherries with notes of coffee bean on the backend. This is a very strong vintage here. Drink from 2023-2040. 939 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Floral in nature, the wine displays cocoa infused cherries and plums on the nose. Medium-bodied, silky and fresh, there is a nice polish to the tannins and loads of juicy sweet, plums, spice, espresso and chocolate in the finish. You can drink this on release. But it will be even better if you age it for a few years. 91-93 Pts 2,288 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
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2019
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Medium-bodied, soft, silky and fresh, with a core of sweet, ripe cherries, flowers and wet earth. The wine is refined, chocolaty, and earthy on the palate and in the lush, plummy finish. Drink from 2023-2038. 2,056 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Pure silk and velvet, this is one sexy Pomerol. The fruit is perfectly ripe, opulent, luscious and rich. Fresh, pure, and complex, with a plummy finish that doesn't quit, this is the finest bottle of La Croix du Casse I have ever tasted. 92-94 Pts 4,522 Views Tasted Jun 13, 2020 |
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2018
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Soft, elegant, silky, sweet red fruits and flowers define the wine. There is good lift, energy and refinement in the juicy, earthy red berries on the mid-palate and in the finish. The wine blends 93% Merlot with 7% Cabernet Franc. 1,294 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Medium-bodied, floral and plummy, you'll find a soft, silky mid-palate and a red cherry, licorice and plum finish. The wine blends 93% Merlot with 7% Cabernet Franc. 89-91 Pts 2,250 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
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2017
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Blending 94% Merlot with 6% Cabernet Franc produced a wine that is medium bodied, focusing on chocolate-covered plums, a fruity mid-palate and a soft textured finish. Due to the frost, the estate lost 70% of their crop. 1,904 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
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2016
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Red plum and cherry, with smoke, licorice and incense aromas open the wine. From there you find a medium-bodied, soft, fresh, forward shot of ripe spicy cherries. You can drink this on release or age it for a few years. The wine was produced from a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. 3,406 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019Salty, mineralesque tannins, medium bodied with sugar-glazed plums -- bright, red and black -- in a whisper finish. Give this just a year or two of aging before consumption and it should be even better. The wine was produced from a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. 2,963 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
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2015
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Better in bottle than in barrel, you find licorice, plums and flowers quickly here. Medium bodied, with soft textures, the ends with a nice, fruity finish. Give this just a year or two of aging before consumption. The wine was produced from a blend of 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. 5,108 Views Tasted May 21, 2018With plum, licorice and floral scents, this wine is medium bodied, ending with fresh, black cherries and a surprise twist -- a hint of mocha. Give this just a year or two of aging before consumption. The wine was produced from a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. 88 - 90 Pts 4,044 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2016 |
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2014
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Medium-bodied, soft, round and plummy with an easy-drinking, forward personality, finishing with light weight cherry, plum, licorice and cocoa notes. 1,889 Views Tasted Aug 25, 2021 |
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2012
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Blending 93% Merlot with 7% Cabernet Franc produced a light, ruby-colored Pomerol with raspberry and earthy notes that ends with a dusty, tart cherry finish. 84-87 Pts 3,483 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
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2010
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Soft, round, approachable, easy to like and even easier to drink, the medium bodied wine serves up fresh plum, dark cherry and espresso notes. 4,325 Views Tasted May 19, 2014 |
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2009
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
With a maturing color, the wine has moved to the secondary stage where you find truffle, smoke and roasted fruits. Medium bodied and fully mature, this is just at its peak today, where it will remain for at least another 7-8 years. 3,554 Views Tasted Sep 20, 2019From a blend of 93% Merlot and 7% Caberent Franc, the wine opens with licorice, juicy plums, black cherry, cocoa and vanilla. Plush in texture, with an open personality, this medium bodied Pomerol wine is not going to make old bones. I'd drink this over the next decade. La Croix du Casse remains one of the better value Bordeaux wines from Pomerol. This can still be purchased for under $30. 4,636 Views Tasted Jul 4, 2012 |
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2008
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Ready to drink, medium-bodied, classic styled Pomerol with an earthy, truffle, plum, thyme filled nose. Firm on the palate with a straight-forward plummy finish. 1,446 Views Tasted Sep 9, 2020 |
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2006
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Ripe, soft, fresh, energetic wine with a plummy, truffle and licorice charm, that males you want to discover what's buried below the plums and dark chocolate. Tahis is drinking quite nicely today. 3,230 Views Tasted Dec 17, 2017 |
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2005
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
With red plum, earth, herb and cocoa notes, this soft, easy drinking, medium bodied wine is already giving what it has to offer. 3,064 Views Tasted Jul 22, 2013 |
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2000
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
Light, bright and fading, the wine is more interesting on the earthy nose, than with its rustic, red plum finish. This requires drinking. 4,347 Views Tasted Feb 18, 2015 |
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1998
Château La Croix du Casse (Pomerol)
This once supple wine is already starting to drop its fruit. Some pleasure can be gleaned from its black fruit profile. But I distinctly recall thinking this was a much better wine at age 5 than it shows itself today at 10. Drink up. It’s not getting any better. It’s already on the downslide on life. 4,479 Views Tasted Oct 12, 2008 |
