Château Croque Michotte

Château Croque-Michotte is located 5 kilometres from Libourne on the D 244 road, in the commune of Saint-Émilion, on the edge of Pomerol.
Created in the middle of the last century, this cru, owing in particular to its situation and the quality of its very well-drained brown gravel-sand soils, achieved a production whose qualities quickly earned it a reputation that was confirmed by its classification in 1955.
It was acquired in 1906 by Samuel Geoffrion, who was succeeded by his daughter, Hélène Rigal-Geoffrion, who in 1986 formed the G.F.A. Geoffrion with her children and grandchildren to ensure the continuity of the family character of the estate; it has thus been able to continue, with the same concern to maintain quality at the highest level, under the direct descendants of Samuel Geoffrion, one of whose great-grandsons, Pierre Carle, is manager.
The constant attention paid to every element likely to improve quality still further begins in the vineyard: tilled soil, short pruning and “green harvests” limiting production and increasing concentration, compliance with organic farming specifications, leaf removal, hand harvesting, optical sorting in the winery. As regards the equipment used, new acquisitions, renovations and improvements of every kind take place every year. Great care is taken over the choice of barrels, the origin of their wood, always fine-grain oak, the quality of the seasoning and the nature of the toasting. The low yields obtained at Croque-Michotte give its wines a structure powerful enough not to be dominated by the oak. Cellar accessories are also checked and chosen with care. It should also be noted that the purchase of more modern equipment is most often decided because it allows better respect for the spirit of traditional methods, such as the peristaltic pump, for example.
From its terroir and grape varieties come the qualities of mellowness, suppleness and ageing ability recognised in the wine of Château Croque-Michotte. That is why Château Croque-Michotte always features prominently at the time of the annual en primeur campaigns in the négociants’ quotations of “Grands Crus Classés and similar”.