COMBRILLAC

“The vineyards are plowed, the ecosystem is taken care of, and Michel has never used synthetic products in the vineyards.”

Domaine Overview

Year Founded: 1994

Winemaker: Michel Theron

Location: Arsac, Bordeaux

Size: 7 hectares

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Petit Verdot
Farming: Biodynamic certified (Demeter)

Production: About 20,000 bottles/year

Michel Theron wasn't supposed to be making Haut-Medoc. Originally from the Languedoc Roussillon, when he went to Bordeaux to study winemaking in 1988, the plan he had in mind was to go back to the family estate and take over. It never happened. Instead, he fell in love with a Bordelaise, and in 1994, the couple produced their first wine from a small parcel in Cantenac they bought in 1993.

Today the estate has developed to a little over 7 hectares in Arsac, Cantenac, and Margaux. Classic Medoc soil with a lot of small gravels and sand, Michel is a firm believer in organic/biodynamic viticulture, converting officially with the 2008 vintage. The vineyards are plowed, the ecosystem is taken care of, and Michel has never used synthetic products in the vineyards.

The gravels and sandy soil of Macau, with very little clay, tend to bring very mineral, terroir driven fruits, while the Terroir of Arsac, with more clay, tend to bring more fruits. Michel is here to make sure the balance between the terroirs make sense in the wines. The end result is classic, age worthy, Traditional Medoc of a kind we had previously been disposed to think was extinct.

​We are very glad that Michel has proved us wrong on that point, because these are some of the most exciting wines we work with, and among the group of wines that we drink the most of ourselves.

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The Wines

Haut Medoc (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

The Haut Medocs see very little new oak, 25% usually, but it all depends of the vintage. The wines feel very terroir driven, age worthy, but are absolutely drinkable in their youth (2008 and 2009 are great today).

Petit Juag (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

Michel’s vineyards within the Clos du Jaugueyron in Margaux are separated into two parcels: Grand Jaugueyron and Petit Jaugueyron, which both have histories dating back to 1898. These grapes are sourced from the latter, which is planted with younger vines. Because of this, it is a Margaux that is ready and rearing to go, and is incredibly delicious!

Margaux Nout (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy (Copy)

The Margaux "Nout" (2015) sees 50% more new oak and is 55% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon from 25 year old vines in Macau, a fresher Margaux.

Clos du Jaugueyron (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy) (Copy)

​The Clos du Jaugueyron is the most important wine Michel makes. Long, complex, probably indestructible, it is a wine that is true to the traditions of Margaux; without the Chateau owner, the cellar master and the army of workers. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc.