The vinification of Château Balestard La Tonnelle benefits from the oenological advice of Michel Rolland . After sorting in the cellar, the grapes are placed in tanks, half in thermoregulated stainless steel and half in cement. After a minimum of three weeks maceration follows the malolactic fermentation, carried out in new barrels.
Aging in oak barrels (50% new, 50% one year old) lasts 15 to 18 months. The average production is 55,000 bottles per year. Château Balestard la Tonnelle is a generous , intense and structured wine to keep . The most recent vintages reveal a lot of finesse. A second wine is now produced at the Château, bearing the Chanoine de Balestard label.
Château Balestard La Tonnelle is one of the oldest vintages of Saint Emilion, as can be seen from this poem by François Villon in which he describes Balestard wine as "divine nectar".