A family estate

Located just a few kilometers from Pauillac and its Grands Crus Classés, Château Balac is a family-run wine estate that has been around for three generations. Established since 1964 on 20 hectares of Haut-Médoc vines, the Touchais family strives to produce a wine as characterful as it is elegant.

Since 2005, Lionel Touchais, grandson of winemaker Joseph Touchais who relaunched the estate in 1964, has been carrying on the family tradition that began four decades ago. After more than 10 years travelling the world as a winemaker, he took up the family torch to continue developing the Château Balac terroir.

Since 2020 and the new classification of the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc, the estate has been recognized as a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, as a reward for the family’s hard work over three generations.

The terroir, composed of clay-limestone, sandy-loam and gravel soils, is planted mainly with Merlot (60%), but also with Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Petit Verdot (10%) and Cabernet Franc.

A committed property

Since 2019, the vineyard has been undergoing organic conversion. He is aware of environmental issues and is committed to evolving and improving the way he works the vines. The estate has been awarded the High Environmental Value label in 2019.

What’s more, to meet customer expectations even better, the estate has created a new cuvée Balac with no added sulfites, a 100% natural Merlot wine for new sensations in the glass.

In terms of viticulture, the fertilizers used are 100% natural (compost and manure), the soil is fertilized with bacteria, grass is planted between the rows to protect the soil and the vines, and weeding is mechanical. Harvesting is naturally 100% manual.

A winemaking process that is as technical as it is traditional

The small, charming winery is run by Joseph Touchais, a trained oenologist.

Vinification seeks to preserve the fruit while developing supple, elegant tannins. The latter is therefore adapted each year according to the characteristics of the vintage.

The château uses a remontage technique, which involves pumping the grape must over the tannin layer to help extract it from the grape skins.

The wines are aged in French oak barrels for twelve months. Around a quarter of the barrels are renewed each year to optimize wine ageing and the contribution of tannins (a young barrel will transmit more tannins).

Fruity, elegant wines

Château Balac produces two red wines bottled at the estate.

The first, Château Balac Cru Bourgeois Supérieur, develops fruity notes with supple, mellow tannins.

The second, Réserve Balac, offers a powerful structure with elegant tannins. A few years of ageing allow it to reveal its full power.