Chateau Darius is owned by the Pommier family, whose winemaking history in Bordeaux dates back to 1879 when they owned a estate called Vrai Caillou in the Entre-deux-Mers region. With over 140 years of winemaking heritage and generations of accumulated expertise, this is a small but historically significant winery in Saint Emilion. Although the family has a long history of winemaking, Michel and Odette Pommier always dreamed of owning land in one of Bordeaux's top appellations. In 1990, they finally purchased approximately 7 hectares of prime vineyards in Saint-Laurent des Combes, the heart of Saint-Émilion, which is now Chateau Darius. Located near Chateau Pavie, it enjoys a "golden location" in Saint Emilion.
The name "Darius" or Daris has a story behind it. Owner Michel named it after the ancient Persian king Darius, hoping to showcase the winery's "regal elegance," while also commemorating his grandson (whose mother had Iranian ancestry). Therefore, the name Chateau Darius combines love for the family with historical elements.
The current head of the winery is Flavien Darius Pommier, the fourth generation of the family, and a key figure in propelling the traditional winery to the forefront of international trends. Flavien is not only a winemaker but also an elite individual with a Master's degree in Finance from King's College London. He is highly skilled at combining family tradition with modern marketing, having received the 2021 Entrepreneur of the Year award from French President Emmanuel Macron, a testament to his influence in the French wine and business world. The owner also successfully collaborated with Mohamed Hadid, father of supermodel Gigi Hadid, to launch wines bearing Hadid's name, successfully introducing Chataeu Darius into the American celebrity and fashion scene and expanding its market in the US.
Region
The winery's vineyards cover approximately 6.6 hectares (about 660 acres), a typical boutique small-scale winery in the Saint-Émilion appellation, with an average annual production of about 38,000 liters, equivalent to about 33,000 bottles of wine per year, with production strictly controlled.
The vineyard soils are primarily sandy clay, rich in crasse de fer and limestone, providing excellent drainage while imparting unique mineral flavors and a robust structure to the grapes, making it a highly representative and premium vineyard in Saint-Émilion.
The vineyard is primarily planted with classic Bordeaux right-bank varieties, with a core blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Some vines are over 50 years old, and the average age of the vines throughout the vineyard is 40 years. These older vines contribute to the wine's richer fruit aromas and greater complexity.
The winery adheres to low-yield farming practices, strictly controlling yields to 35-40 hectoliters per hectare, far below the legal limit for the appellation. Simultaneously, it promotes environmentally friendly rationalized agriculture, minimizing the use of chemical agents and respecting the terroir and natural cycles to the greatest extent possible.
Winemaking
Chateau Darius wines with 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, it is worth mentioning that the average age of the vines is about 40 years, and at Saint Emilion, the old vines produce fruit with more concentrated flavor and deeper layers. In order to ensure quality, the winery strictly limits production to about 35-40 hectares per hectare (far below the limit set by law in the production area). The wine is aged in oak barrels, 30%-40% of which are new oak barrels. The wine is smooth as silk, with ripe black cherry, plum notes, accompanied by hints of chocolate and cedar. Opening it now has entered the drinking period. Compared to Grand Cru Classes in the same area, Chateau Darius is much more affordable, which is called "Smart Buy."
