List of products by brand CHÂTEAU DE TRACY

Set on the south-west-facing slopes above the Loire at Tracy-sur-Loire (Nièvre), Château de Tracy covers 33 hectares planted exclusively to Sauvignon Blanc in the Pouilly-Fumé appellation. In the same family since the fourteenth century, the estate was re-established in 1952 by Comte Alain d'Estutt d'Assay; today the vineyards are farmed biodynamically across flint clays, Kimmeridgian marls and limestone. At Halles Quercamps, we selected this estate for its agronomic rigour — HVE Level 3 certification, organic conversion and full biodynamic practice — and for the precision with which its whites express the mineral character of the Pouilly-Fumé terroir. A benchmark Loire estate we recommend with confidence.

Château de Tracy stands on the heights of Tracy-sur-Loire as one of the most compelling addresses in Pouilly-Fumé: a historic estate farmed with quiet conviction by a family whose roots on these slopes reach back to the fourteenth century.

Six centuries of unbroken family ownership

The property is documented in the hands of the d'Estutt d'Assay family as far back as 1396, making it one of the oldest continuously family-owned vineyards on the Loire. For several centuries the estate served primarily as a country seat, but in 1952 Comte Alain d'Estutt d'Assay took the decisive step of re-establishing it as a dedicated wine-producing estate. That act of renewal gave Pouilly-Fumé one of its most consistent and thoughtful producers. Today the estate is guided by Juliette d'Assay, who has deepened the agronomic ambitions of the property considerably, steering the entire vineyard towards biodynamic farming while maintaining the meticulous attention to terroir expression that has always defined Château de Tracy.

Terroir: flint clay, Kimmeridgian marl and limestone

The 33 hectares of vines occupy south-west-facing slopes that overlook the Loire in the commune of Tracy-sur-Loire, in the Nièvre département. The soils are a classic Pouilly-Fumé mosaic: argiles à silex (flint-bearing clays) that lend tension and a characteristic smoky mineral edge; Kimmeridgian marls, the same ancient seabed limestone that defines the great terroirs of Chablis and Sancerre, which add salinity and depth; and pure limestone parcels that contribute finesse and aromatic lift. The entire surface is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, the only permitted variety in the Pouilly-Fumé AOC. Average yields are held to 54 hl/ha over a five-year mean — a figure that reflects deliberate restraint and a commitment to concentration over volume.

Biodynamic farming and certifications

Château de Tracy was certified HVE Level 3 (Haute Valeur Environnementale) in 2014, one of the earlier adopters of this French environmental benchmark among Loire estates. The vineyard has since progressed through organic conversion and is now farmed in full biodynamie, following the lunar calendar and working exclusively with plant-based and mineral preparations. This progression — from HVE to organic conversion to biodynamics — reflects a coherent, long-term philosophy rather than a marketing exercise. In the cellar, the approach is equally measured: the aim is to translate each parcel's soil character into the glass with as little intervention as possible.

The wines of Château de Tracy

The estate produces exclusively white wines under the Pouilly-Fumé appellation. The range is built around a clear hierarchy of terroir expression:

Pouilly-Fumé (entry-level cuvée) — a precise, mineral-driven white drawing on the estate's flint clay and limestone parcels; fresh, focused and immediately expressive.
Pouilly-Fumé Mademoiselle de T — a parcel selection offering greater depth and textural richness, with the Kimmeridgian marl character more prominent.
Pouilly-Fumé 101 Rangs — the estate's prestige cuvée, sourced from a single plot of 101 rows of old vines; vinified and aged to reveal the full complexity of the Tracy terroir.

Why we have selected Château de Tracy

We have listed Château de Tracy at Halles Quercamps for three reasons that go beyond the label. First, the agronomic integrity: very few Loire estates can point to a coherent journey from HVE certification through to full biodynamic practice — this is genuine commitment, not a shortcut. Second, the terroir legibility: the wines are a reliable guide to what Pouilly-Fumé's varied soils actually taste like, parcel by parcel. Third, the historical continuity: six centuries of unbroken family ownership on the same slopes is a rarity anywhere in France, and it shows in the confidence and consistency of the winemaking. We recommend Château de Tracy to confirmed Sauvignon Blanc enthusiasts, to those building a Loire section in their cellar, and to anyone who wants to understand why Pouilly-Fumé and Kimmeridgian marl are such a natural partnership. At table, these whites are outstanding alongside freshwater fish — pike-perch or trout — as well as goat's cheese from the nearby Berry.