List of products by brand CHATEAU DE SALES

Established on the north-west plateau of Pomerol, in Libourne, Gironde, Château de Sales extends across 48 hectares of warm gravels and iron-rich sands — among the largest estates in the appellation. Acquired by the Sauvanelle family in 1578, it has remained within the same lineage for nearly five centuries, a continuity without parallel in Bordeaux. The Lambert family, leading the estate since 2017, uphold that heritage through structured Pomerol reds where Merlot dominates and the ferruginous soil speaks clearly. At Halles Quercamps, we selected this HVE-certified property for its terroir integrity, honest wines, and the remarkable depth of a domain that has never left a single family's hands. A dependable reference for any serious Pomerol enthusiast.

Château de Sales is one of the very few châteaux in Pomerol to combine genuine scale — 48 hectares under vine — with an unbroken family succession stretching back to 1578. We list it at Halles Quercamps as a cornerstone address for lovers of the Bordeaux right bank.

Nearly five centuries in a single family

When the Sauvanelle family acquired Château de Sales in 1578, they could scarcely have imagined that their descendants would still be tending the same vines nearly five hundred years later. That continuity is, by any measure, extraordinary in Bordeaux — a region where estates have changed hands repeatedly across the centuries. The Lambert family, direct descendants of the Sauvanelles, took over the day-to-day direction of the château in 2017, bringing fresh energy to a property whose roots run deeper than almost any other in the Pomerol appellation. The chartreuse at the heart of the estate, a handsome seventeenth-century manor house, was classified as a Monument Historique in 1996 — a recognition not only of its architectural merit but of its place in the long story of Bordeaux winemaking.

Terroir: plateau gravels and the iron-rich crasse de fer

Positioned on the north-west plateau of the Pomerol appellation, in the commune of Libourne in the Gironde, the estate's soils are a blend of fine gravels and warm sands carrying a significant concentration of iron oxides — locally known as crasse de fer. This ferruginous subsoil is a defining feature of the appellation's finest terroirs, lending the wines a mineral backbone and a particular density of fruit that sets them apart from their neighbours across the Dordogne. At 48 hectares, Château de Sales is among the most extensive single properties in Pomerol, where the average holding is a fraction of that size. The vineyard is planted predominantly to Merlot (73%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Cabernet Franc (12%) — a blend that reflects both the appellation's identity and the estate's own long-established style.

Viticulture and certification

Château de Sales holds HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification, a French national standard recognising responsible management of biodiversity, water use, plant protection, and fertilisation. For a property of this size, achieving and maintaining HVE certification represents a meaningful commitment to sustainable viticulture across the full extent of the estate.

The wines of Château de Sales

The château produces exclusively red wines under the Pomerol appellation. The range is built around the estate's Merlot-led assemblage, shaped by the iron-rich gravels and sands of the north-west plateau:

• Château de Sales Pomerol — the grand vin, a structured, fruit-forward red with a ferruginous mineral thread running through a core of dark plum and spice, built for the cellar.
• Château de Sales second wine — approachable earlier, retaining the terroir character of the estate in a more supple register.

Why we have selected Château de Sales

We selected Château de Sales for three reasons that matter to us as a family merchant. First, the terroir is coherent and legible: the iron-rich gravels of the north-west plateau leave a clear signature in the wines, vintage after vintage. Second, the family continuity — nearly five centuries without a change of ownership — speaks to a relationship with the land that no amount of investment can replicate. Third, the HVE certification confirms that this historic property is being managed with genuine environmental responsibility, not merely commercial calculation. We recommend these wines to confirmed Bordeaux enthusiasts who know Pomerol well and are looking for an estate with real depth of character rather than a fashionable label. At the table, the grand vin pairs beautifully with roast lamb, duck confit, or a well-aged hard cheese.

Explore the full range from Château de Sales

Browse all available vintages and cuvées from this historic Pomerol château in the selection below.