Alain Jabiol and his daughter, Amélie own both Chateau Cadet-Piola, a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé property, and Chateau de Pasquette. The former, covering some 17 acres is situated on high ground just north of the town of Saint-Emilion, while the latter, covering 7½ acres lies on the town’s southern slope. Both estates produce classic Saint-Emilion wines, rich in the Merlot grape variety, but there are subtle differences in the blends used. Chateau Cadet-Piola wines are 51% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec, while those from Chateau de Pasquette are 80% Merlot, with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Yields are kept deliberately low in both properties and this leads to high quality. Alain Jabiol adopts a very ‘hands-on’ approach to wine making and traditional methods are followed faithfully, including fining with egg whites and partial ageing in oak barrels. These are excellent wines, with the 1996 Chateau de Pasquette representing particularly good value.
