Alias Croizet-Bages
Alias Croizet-Bages is truly a gateway to the Grand Vin. Primarily made from young vines, it reflects both the terroir’s evolution and the vintage’s influence. Its blend changes in line with new plantings, giving it a unique personality each year.
Its label, featuring delicate gold accents, echoes the château’s new facilities, symbolizing the estate’s renewal and modernization. This wine thus embodies the heritage and forward-thinking vision of Château Croizet-Bages, offering a contemporary interpretation of the Pauillac appellation.
History
The story of Château Croizet-Bages began in the 17th century, when the Croizet brothers—emblematic figures of the Médoc—founded this estate in the heart of Pauillac. Drawing on their expertise, they established a prestigious vineyard by carefully selecting parcels throughout the appellation. The property then passed to the Calvé family, Bordeaux wine merchants who further enhanced its reputation. In 1855, Château Croizet-Bages was recognized as a Fifth Growth, a distinction later affirmed by medals at the Universal Exhibitions of 1878 and 1889.
The early 20th century brought challenges: vine diseases and financial crises weakened the estate. Its revival began in 1942, when passionate négociant Paul Quié acquired the property and worked to restore its former glory. His son, Jean-Michel Quié, succeeded him and launched ambitious modernization efforts, notably replanting the vineyard starting in 1969. Since 2000, his children, Anne-Françoise and Jean-Philippe, have continued this quest for excellence, refining parcel selection and winemaking techniques. Today, Château Croizet-Bages is entering a new era, with state-of-the-art facilities set to debut in 2026.
Alias Croizet-Bages, whose name means “otherwise known as” in Latin, embodies this momentum. It reflects both the terroir and the family’s expertise, highlighting the estate’s young vines, which will one day produce the grand vin.
The Vineyard
The vineyard of Château Croizet-Bages covers 27 hectares of the deep gravel and gravelly sand soils characteristic of the Bages plateau. It benefits from an ideal climate for Bordeaux grape varieties, with a high planting density of 8,500 vines per hectare that ensures top-quality yields.
Cabernet Sauvignon (58%) dominates the vineyard, providing structure and complexity, complemented by Merlot (39%) for roundness and fruit, and Petit Verdot (3%) which adds a spicy note and vibrant freshness. The vines are on average 35 years old, striking a harmonious balance between vigor and maturity.
Meticulous vineyard management includes rigorous monitoring, precise ripeness checks, controlled cover cropping, and Poussard pruning to extend vine longevity. A leaf-thinning process before harvest further enhances phenolic ripeness in the grapes.
Winemaking et Aging
Alias Croizet-Bages undergoes the same winemaking process as the estate’s grand vin. Each parcel is vinified separately in stainless steel vats, enabling precise monitoring of fermentation. Temperatures are maintained between 26°C and 28°C, and two to three pump-overs per day ensure a gentle, controlled extraction of tannins and aromas. Malolactic fermentations take place in both vats and barrels, adding roundness and balance.
The wine is then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, contributing finesse and aromatic complexity.
Character of the Wine
Alias Croizet-Bages stands out for its elegance and approachability, while still reflecting Pauillac’s signature style. The nose reveals enticing aromas of cherry and cedar, lifted by spicy notes and a subtle hint of graphite. On the palate, the wine’s supple and well-balanced tannic framework leads into a long, harmonious finish. It offers instant pleasure yet also has significant aging potential.
