Chateau de Bel is the idyllic estate that houses the visionary project and wines of 'Vins Olivier Cazenave.' Olivier and his wife Anne married in 2003, the same year they embarked on their lifelong dream of buying a rustic piece of property and a home on the picturesque edge of the Dordogne River, with a promise to create an estate and wines that are truly distinct from others. Their commitment to humility and common sense has led them to a place where the wines express their vivacious personality, endless creativity, and pure expression of terroir, all the while being fully dedicated to organic and biodynamic farming since 2016. Starting with just 4.5 hectares, they have expanded over the years by acquiring small neighboring plots, and now farm around 8 hectares of vines, producing about 60,000 bottles annually through their various labels, appellations, and divers projects. 

The ‘Capitane’ is a classic and stunning representation of what Olivier can do with the Merlot grape. Coming from estate vines of about 25 years on clay and limestone soils, the fruit is picked when perfect and brought to the cellar to naturally ferment in both concrete vats and large foudres. The fermentation continues for about three weeks until the juice is pressed off the skins, and then the wine ages in 225-liter and 500-liter used French oak for 18 months before being bottled (with no fining or filtration). This complex and dark red has a gorgeous nose of purple violets, tree ripe plums, rocks, and earthy soil richness. In the mouth, the complexity of black ripe cherries and perfect plums has gorgeous acidity to match the fruit, as well as a mineral quality that complements the tannin structure hinting of the wood aging without significant wood markers. A very well-built wine that has as much depth as it does lift and freshness.