Château Pabus’ Grand Ambitions

The Pabus property on the Sadirac hills barely covers a few acres of vines and a number of plants so small, you could almost assign a name to each of them.

The bunches of grapes flourish with individual attention and are hand picked with infinite care when they are perfectly ripe.

All this effort is for a few hundred litres of a wine with attention lavished on it like a prince.

Château Pabus is a top Bordeaux to be discovered by connaisseurs.


Excellent Location

Mr. Robert S. Dow and the Château Pabus team do not compromise when it comes to making exceptional wines.

The determination to make excellent wine is inspired by the quality of the terroir and the example of nearby wine estates producing some of the most exclusive Bordeaux wines.

Perfect Conditions for a Superior Merlot

The orientation of the Château Pabus vineyard and the terroir of clay, silt and sand makes it ideal for growing Merlot grapes. These give the wine a rich and elegant taste.

A small portion of the most south-oriented plots allow Malbec and Cabernet Franc to grow. These grapes give the wines extra fruitiness and structure.


Natural Water Basin

The clay in the soil of Château Pabus creates a natural water basin. It assures access to water for the vines throughout the growing season. Additionally, the inclination and remodeling of the surface improves the natural drainage of the vineyard.

This is an important advantage, making the vineyard resistant to increasing temperatures and summer heat waves, which have become a serious challenge for winemakers in Bordeaux.


Proactive Care in Each Row of the Vineyard

Proactive care in each row of the vineyard is the basic ingredient for producing an excellent wine. This will never change. If the fruit isn’t clean, healthy and pure, you can’t make great wine.

After a detailed study of the different plots of the vineyard, rootstocks and clones are carefully selected to be the best adapted to the physical and chemical conditions of the ground.

“Two traditional Bordeaux types
which are rarely brought together.”

The choice of the Merlot and Malbec grape varieties – two traditional Bordeaux types which are rarely brought together – is already distinctive and corresponds to a deliberate decision to be modern.

Planting densities, the number of bunches per vine and rational cultivation techniques are specifically determined in order to produce top quality fruit.

Winemaking,
the Craft of a Team

Pabus wines are also the outcome of the winemaker’s hard work. What would a terroir produce without the craft of the team?

Robert S. Dow takes special care to call attention to the people with whom he creates his wines, insisting that in any piece of work, the style is always set by people.

“in any piece of work,
the style is always set by people

Michel Rolland – recognised as one of the world’s best oenologist – is devoted to the success of Château Pabus. For many years, he has assisted the team throughout the winemaking process. 

The contribution of experts with their knowledge and experience is indispensable when applying the virtues of moderation, balance and respecting the rules in winemaking.

State-of-the-art Installations

In his quest for excellence, Mr. Dow renovated the wine estate, giving it a fantastic installation: a vathouse for the vinification of wine in oak casks and a second vathouse with resolutely modern stainless steel tanks in which to make the second wine. 

“The whole winemaking installation was completely redesigned. A gangway was constructed over the new tanks. Reshaped floors facilitate the evacuation of winery waste water.”

There is also a cellar for malolactic fermentation and an ageing cellar, both with ideal temperature conditions.

The renovation and construction of the installations have been conducted with special care in order to delicately blend traditional and innovative architecture.