Château de la Vieille Chapelle
On the sandy northern banks of the Dordogne river, just kilometres before it turns into the Gironde estuary, Frederic Mallier, along with his wife and two sons, have been running a 22-hectare estate since 2006. 11 Hectares are planted with vines and the rest is home to fruit trees, bees, sheep, chickens and a vine nursery for the conservation and reproduction of ancient grape varieties.
​
Despite being on the flat lands, to preserve soil structure they don’t use tractors, farming entirely by hand, choosing biodiversity and agroforestry over sprays and follow biodynamic principles to bolster health across the estate, gaining certification in 2015. Although the estate hosts a 12th Century chapel and ephemeral outdoor bar overlooking the wide, cooling Dordogne, who's banks are only metres away, the real magic, as usual, is in the vines.
​
In particular, a 0.33 hectare plot of un-grafted, pre-phylloxera vines that were planted 150 years ago. Soon after taking ownership they had DNA tests done for every single vine in this very special plot and the results tell us the varieties are 65% Bouchalès (a rare ancient Bordelaise variety), 25% Merlot and the other 10% are other rare local varieties, some believed extinct (Mancin, Peloursin, Castets, Cot, Baco and others). The Cuvée des des Amis et Associés follows the ratios of this field blend, whereas the VDF Bouchalès is 100% Bouchalès and it sings true uniqueness.
​
Les Grands Blancs is 100% Sémillon, aged in Berthomieu French Oak, fined, but unfiltered with no addition of SO2. The density and ripeness of the Sémillon integrates the oaky characteristics giving a velvety mouth.The Tradition is 80% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc, vinified and aged in concrete, unfined and unfiltered. The Réserve also 80% Merlot, 20% Cab Franc, vinified in concrete, unfined and unfiltered, but spends 10 months in equal parts 2nd and 3rd fill Barthomieu Barrels with very low addition of SO2 at bottling only.
​
​
Download Tech Sheet - Grands Blancs 2020
​
Download Tech Sheet - Bordeaux Tradition 2019
​
Download Tech Sheet - Bordeaux Reserve 2019
​
Download Tech Sheet - Merlots de Baudet 2018
​
Download Tech Sheet - C'est Bon Le Vin 2020
​
Download Tech Sheet - 100% Bouchalès 2016
