Château Plain Point: A Gravity-Flow Cellar in Service of the Fronsac Terroir
Château Plain Point: A Gravity-Flow Cellar in Service of the Fronsac Terroir
Innovation, architecture and precision driving a new era for the estate.
First mentioned in 1480, Château Plain Point rises on the heights of Fronsac, already recognized as one of the region’s historic vineyards. Over the centuries, it has weathered the tides of history, revolution, changes of ownership, and periods of neglect, before being revived by enlightened restorers. In the 19ᵗʰ century, Libourne wine merchant Joseph Chaperon brought the estate back to life, expanded it and infused it with renewed ambition. Since 2013, under the ownership of Chinese businessman Shi Yuzhu, Château Plain Point has undergone a profound structural and technical transformation. Today, thisrenewal takes form in an ambitious project: the construction of a modern gravity-flow cellar, a symbol of winemaking reimagined in service of the terroir and of quality.
A place designed for wine, from top to bottom
The new winery and vat room at Château Plain Point have been conceived according to a gravity-flow principle: grapes, berries and juices move naturally from the upper to the lower levels, minimizing mechanical pumping and favoring gentle handling that preserves the fruit’s purity. This type of facility is particularly prized among leading modern estates for maintaining the aromatic and phenolic integrity of the wine.
The project was entrusted to Chadebost Créations, which here signs one of its flagship designs in the world of fine wine architecture. The agency, already behind several prestigious cellars, expresses through Plain Point the estate’s technical ambition to play a leading role within the Fronsac appellation. The architectural layout takes into account the limestone plateau on which the estate rests: the building is embedded into the slope, making use of natural levels to ensure the free flow of juice. The wooden vats are a central feature, harmoniously integrated into the building’s overall aesthetic, combiningmodern lines with traditional accents. In essence, the cellar stands not as a factory, but as a place of technological precision where every technical constraint is mastered to allow the finesse of the wine to emerge.
Technical features and winemaking choices
The renovation of the estate goes far beyond the building itself: all winemaking processes have been redesigned, with the new winery at the very heart of this transformation. The vineyard now covers 120 hectares (compared with 30 hectares at the time of purchase), and Shi Yuzhu’s ambitious project aims to restore the estate’s historic 180 hectares. Plantings are dominated by Merlot (85%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (10%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%). The terroir consists of blue clay, calcaire à astéries, clay-limestone and Fronsadais molasse, a geological mosaic favourable to complexity and structure.
From the moment of its acquisition in 2013, Château Plain Point embarked on a comprehensive modernisation: vineyard expansion, equipment renewal and collaboration with Hubert de Boüard (Oeno-Lab: Philippe Nunes, Bryan Dessaint and Maxime Tach) as consulting oenologist. The new cellar makes it possible “to optimise energy management, enhance traceability, improve temperature control, achieve fine separation of lots and pursue a vinification process that fully respects the fruit.” A diverse technical approach is employed: stainless steel, concrete and wooden vats, depending on the parcels and desired profiles, with part of the wine matured in barrels. The goal is to achieve an expression of Fronsac’s inherent elegance, a balance betweenpower and finesse.
Agricultural, environmental and promotional ambitions
Beyond technical efficiency, this new cellar symbolises a new era for Château Plain Point, which seeks to establish itself among the leading names of Fronsac. The wineryalso serves as a vector of communication and prestige: through such an achievement, the estate asserts its commitment to transparency, technical precision and modernity. It is destined to become a place for visits, demonstrations and oenotourism a key element in the contemporary Bordeaux landscape.
Furthermore, the facility is part of a sustainable approach: reducing mechanical handling, conserving energy, mastering process flows, and respecting the grape as raw material, while limiting stress on the berries. These aspects are essential for the wines of tomorrow, where “qualitative excellence must go hand in hand with ecological awareness.” This new gravity-flow cellar is “more than an infrastructure, it is a promise.”A promise that Château Plain Point’s wines will express their terroir with greater precision, finesse and authenticity.
