On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, we had the opportunity to interview Eric Stauffer. Eric is the winemaker for VGS Chateau Potelle Wines. We covered nine wines in total. Six were from the 2021 vintage. There were also two from the 2022 vintage and a 2023 Cabernet Franc. VGS wines are sold directly to the consumer. They are considered high-end offerings. You can access their wines via their website or by joining their club.
Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Eric shared in the interview.
- Jean-Noel Fourmeaux is the owner and founder of VGS Chateau Potelle.
- In 1980 he was sent to the Napa Valley by the French government after the Judgment of Paris to “spy” for 6 months and evaluate the competition.
- That plan went awry when he sent a telegram home: “Looks good, I’m staying.”
- He was inspired by the freedom given to California winemakers that allowed for great creativity and expression.
- He started Chateau Potelle in 1983 on Mount Veeder with his wife Marketta.
- In 2007, Chateau Potelle was sold to Jackson Family Wines. The sale involved the 202-acre estate, but not the brand, inventory, or business.
- After beating cancer and Jean-Noelle re-created his winery as VGS Chateau Potelle.
- They maintained long standing relationships, so they had grapes sources when they decided to reactive the winery.
- Today the wines are made at The Wine Foundry custom crush facility in Napa.
- You can experience their wines at their Tasting House & Garden in St. Helena.
- Eric Stauffer came to VGS in 2015.
- Eric’s family owned a winery in PA which they recently sold. So, he grew up surrounded by wine.
- While going to school at UC Davis he worked as a lab manager in Clarksburg.
- Eric’s philosophy is “wines are right if they are delicious.”
- “It is a blend of art, craft, and science. You can’t rely on just one to make delicious wine!”
- Vintages – Eric’s favorite vintages so far were 2017 and 2023.
- VGS has a consulting winemaker – Kale Anderson
- During blending sessions – Jean Noelle tends to encourage restraint, while Eric leans toward big. Kale brings them together.
- There is a funny story how an early customer described their wines. Hence the name VGS was born. If you didn’t figure it out, it stands for “Very Good Shit.”
- Why Chapters? Because you will not see consistency from vintage to vintage. Because Pinot is the heartbreak grape (So susceptible to weather) It’s a new chapter every time.
- Terrior Collection labels are going away. The wines are staying, they will just be released under the VGS label.
- Moon Mountain is in Sonoma and is on the western slopes of the mountain. Mount Veeder is in Napa and is on the eastern slopes of the same mountain.
- They use an optical sorter on their Zins. It helps tremendously.
- 2022 they waited on Zins and Cabs – With the sorter they can take out the raisins after heat waves.
- The “Oakville” comes from the Renteria 360 Vineyard in the northern part of Oakville.
- The Fourmeaux in 2022 will be Oakville fruit.
- Potelle Two is their least expensive blend, but they use as much effort and sometimes put even more effort into that wine.
- VGS Pinots are really good, but those barrels were not good enough to be Fourmeaux wines.
- They use 100% French oak on all wines.
Below is a summary of the wine offerings from VGS Chateau Potelle that we covered with Eric. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you can purchase most of these wines on the VGS Chateau Potelle website. If you become a member, you get access to member only wines, shipping incentives, preferred member pricing and much more.
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2021 Pinot Noir “Fourmeaux Chapter VIII” (Sonoma Coast) $130 (KWGTP 93)
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2021 “Terroir Collection GSC” (Mount Veeder) $135 (KWGTP 94)
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2021 Zinfandel (Moon Mountain) $110 (KWGTP 93.5)
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2022 Zinfandel (Moon Mountain) $110 (KWGTP 94)
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2023 Cabernet Franc (Mount Veeder) $170 (KWGTP 94.5)
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2022 Petite Sirah (Mount Veeder) $110 (KWGTP 95)
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mount Veeder) $185 (KWGTP 96)
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Oakville” $205 (KWGTP 96.5)
- VGS Chateau Potelle 2021 “Fourmeaux Red Wine” $350 (KWGTP 97)
You can find reviews of past and future VGS wines that we cover on the VGS Chateau Potelle KWG winery page on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! – Ken