Château CALON

The vineyard of Château Calon has been built up step by step over the three centuries by the family who still runs it. It is located all around the culminating point of Calon hill.

Calon was once part of the Cistercian abbey of Faise and has only recently come into the township of Montagne. The exact origin of the name is unknown. However, on the spot of the present chais (working halls) the remnants of a roman grain silo have been found. The Greeks also came to this region, as is shown by place names like Arès or Auros …

In Greek, the word « Calon » means beauty, therefore is a link between the etymology of the name, local history and the geographic situation is quite possible. The Greeks always associated beauty and excellence. The quality of the wine today, together with the beautiful spot, are a live witness to a tradition of ages of wine making.

The vineyard of the château is 55 Hectares for an average production of Château Calon is 200 000 bottles. The soil is of clay limestone on a basis of limestone rock. The grape varieties are Merlot 70 %, Cabernet Sauvignon 12 %, Cabernet Franc 15 % and Malbec 3 %. Many of the vines are over 60 years old. The harvest and its sorting are entirely done by hand, and stopped should there be rain.

During the whole process of wine making, temperature is regulated. Maceration is very long and fermentation is done only with the natural yeast.

The wine is laid to mature in enamelled concrete vats and in oak wood casks for two and a half years before bottling. It may then continue ageing and improve for at least 25 years. In 1981, a cellar was dug thirty meters down into the limestone rock. This enables to store bottled wine and barrels in ideal conditions of temperature and moisture. The winery was modernised in 1985, including a stainless steel conveyor belt, on which the grapes can be sorted by hand.

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