Est. 1850 · Pauillac, France
Baron Castle winemaking cellar, large stainless steel fermentation tanks, dim industrial lighting, deep shadows, stone walls
The Art & Science of Pauillac

TheCraft ofWinemaking

At 圣兰博之围, winemaking is not a process — it is a philosophy. Every decision, from the moment the vine flowers to the day the bottle is sealed, is guided by the singular pursuit of excellence.

01 — The Process

From Vine
to Bottle

Close-up of Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon grape clusters on vine, deep purple-black color, morning light, gravel soil visible below
Step 01
01
The Foundation

Terroir & Viticulture

Everything begins in the soil. Our 45 hectares of Günzian gravel force vine roots 8–12 metres deep in search of water and nutrients, producing grapes of extraordinary concentration. Biodynamic practices, adopted in 2008, restore and maintain the natural microbial life of the soil. We observe lunar cycles for pruning, harvesting, and bottling.

Vine density: 8,500 plants/ha · Average vine age: 42 years · Rootstock: 101-14 · Pruning: Guyot double

Hands carefully harvesting red wine grapes from vine, close-up of grape picking, warm afternoon light, Bordeaux vineyard
Step 02
02
The Moment of Truth

Harvest

Harvest at 圣兰博之围 is entirely by hand — there are no machines in our vineyards. We employ 120 seasonal harvesters who work in teams of eight, moving through each parcel with precision. A double-sorting process — first in the vineyard, then on the sorting table in the chai — ensures only perfect fruit enters our vats.

Harvest period: Late September – Early October · Sorting: Double triage, optical sorting table · Yield: 35–42 hl/ha

Stainless steel wine fermentation tanks in modern winery, dim blue-tinted light, industrial scale, atmospheric shadows
Step 03
03
The Transformation

Fermentation

Grapes are fermented by parcel in our combination of temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and traditional wooden fermenters. Indigenous yeasts, native to the 圣兰博之围 chai, initiate fermentation naturally. Gentle pump-overs and pigeage extract colour, tannin, and aromatic complexity without aggression. Total maceration: 25–35 days.

Fermenters: 24 stainless steel (150–200 hl) + 6 oak vats · Temperature: 28–30°C peak · Maceration: 25–35 days

French oak wine barrels in stone château cellar, rows of barriques, dim candlelight, historic vaulted ceiling, deep shadows
Step 04
04
The Long Patience

Élevage in Oak

After the assemblage in January, 圣兰博之围 Grand Vin spends 22 months in French oak barriques of 225 litres, 35% new. Barrels are sourced exclusively from the Tronçais and Allier forests, chosen for their fine, tight grain. Monthly racking and traditional egg-white fining clarify the wine without filtration. The result is a wine of remarkable purity and depth.

Oak: French, 225L barriques · New oak: 35% Grand Vin, 20% Second Wine · Élevage: 22 months · Fining: Egg-white · Filtration: None

02 — The Cellars

The Grand
Cave Baron

Built in 1878 by the second generation of the Baron family, our stone cellar maintains a constant temperature of 12°C and humidity of 85% year-round — the perfect conditions for the slow, patient evolution of great Bordeaux.

The cellar houses 600 barriques simultaneously, arranged in three vaulted chambers. The oldest stones are original to 1878. Our cellar master, Élodie Marchais, oversees every barrel personally, tasting from each cask monthly to monitor development and determine the optimal bottling date.

600
Barriques Capacity
12°C
Constant Temp.
1878
Year Built
Stone vaulted wine cellar with rows of oak barriques, candlelight, deep shadows, historic architecture
Fig. 01 · First Cellar
Wine barrels stacked in dark cellar, atmospheric lighting, stone floor, ancient wooden racks
Fig. 02 · Second Cellar
03 — Aging Potential

Wines Built
for Decades

The hallmark of great Pauillac is longevity. The deep gravel soils, high Cabernet Sauvignon content, and our meticulous élevage produce wines that reward patience with extraordinary complexity.

Our 1961 Grand Vin, still in perfect condition after 64 years, stands as testament to what Pauillac terroir and careful winemaking can achieve. We cellar back-vintages of every wine produced, ensuring that future generations can experience the full arc of 圣兰博之围's evolution.

"We do not make wines for today. We make wines for your children."

— Élodie Marchais, Maître de Chai
Explore Our Wines
Wine
Oak
New Oak
Ready
Peak
Grand Vin
22 months
35%
8–15 years
15–40 years
Réserve
24 months
50%
10–18 years
18–45 years
Second Wine
14 months
20%
3–6 years
6–15 years
Blanc
10 months
0%
1–2 years
3–8 years
Aging Potential · Years
Grand Vin
50+ yrs
Réserve
50+ yrs
Second Wine
20+ yrs
Blanc
12+ yrs