Bon Pasteur, Chateau Le
Summary
Château Le Bon Pasteur is a 6.62-hectare Pomerol estate in eastern Bordeaux producing Merlot-dominant wines from clay, gravel, and sand soils neighboring prestigious properties like Château Pétrus. The property balances traditional Bordeaux methods with thoughtful innovation, maintaining Michel Rolland's winemaking influence through careful manual harvesting, temperature-controlled fermentation, and 18-month aging in French oak to express the distinctive character of its terroir.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Le Bon Pasteur was established in 1920 by the Rolland family in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux. The estate remained under family ownership for nearly a century, with Michel Rolland—who would later become one of the world's most influential consulting oenologists—and his wife Dany managing the property from 1979. In 2013, a significant transition occurred when Hong Kong-based businessman Pan Sutong, chairman of the Goldin Group, acquired the château. This acquisition marked the end of the Rolland family's direct ownership, though Michel Rolland continued his association with the property as a consulting winemaker. The château stands as one of the notable properties in Pomerol, an appellation distinguished by its lack of formal classification system yet recognized for producing some of Bordeaux's most sought-after wines.
Vineyards & Wines
Château Le Bon Pasteur encompasses 6.62 hectares of vineyards strategically positioned in the eastern sector of Pomerol. The estate benefits from a diverse soil composition that includes clay, gravel, and sandy elements—a terroir particularly well-suited to Merlot cultivation. The vineyard is planted predominantly with Merlot (80%) complemented by Cabernet Franc (20%), reflecting the typical varietal distribution of the appellation. The property is situated near other distinguished Pomerol estates, including Château L'Évangile and Château Pétrus, in an area known for its favorable mesoclimate. The château produces approximately 2,000 cases annually of its grand vin, Château Le Bon Pasteur, along with a second wine called L'Étoile de Bon Pasteur. The wines typically display the characteristic depth and plushness associated with quality Pomerol, expressing rich fruit concentration balanced by structural elements derived from their specific terroir.
Philosophy & Practice
The winemaking approach at Château Le Bon Pasteur reflects a balance between traditional Bordeaux methods and contemporary techniques. Harvesting is conducted manually with careful selection of fruit both in the vineyard and at the sorting table. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, allowing for precise extraction management. The estate employs micro-oxygenation, a technique Michel Rolland helped popularize, which introduces minute amounts of oxygen during the winemaking process to soften tannins and enhance fruit expression. Aging occurs in French oak barrels, with approximately 80% new oak for the grand vin, typically lasting 18 months before bottling. Under the Goldin Group's ownership, investments have been made in winery infrastructure to maintain quality standards while respecting the estate's established winemaking philosophy. The property continues to focus on producing wines that express the distinctive characteristics of their Pomerol terroir while maintaining consistency across vintages.