Château Monbrison: a prestigious estate in the heart of the Médoc
Located in the commune of Arsac, in the heart of the Margaux appellation, Château Monbrison is a renowned wine estate on the Bordeaux’s Left Bank. Covering 15.5 hectares, the vines benefit from a unique terroir of deep Pyrenean gravel and optimum drainage, producing wines of the highest quality. The estate's privileged geographical location, between the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean, gives the wines a specific signature typical of the great Médoc wines.
A rich history passed on from generation to generation
Château Monbrison has been owned by the Vonderheyden family since 1921, and is now run by Laurent Vonderheyden. The history of the estate dates back to the time when Robert Meacham Davis, an American poet, artist and journalist, fell in love with Kathleen Johnston and bought the estate to live in with his new wife. The Vonderheydens, direct descendants of this marriage, are the first generation to bottle and market the wine entirely in-house.
Over the years, this Bordeaux estate has seen many upheavals, particularly during the Second World War, when the vines were uprooted in 1939 and not replanted until 1963. During this period, the land was leased to various merchants and châteaux, including Prieuré-Lichine. Since then, Château Monbrison has managed to reconnect with its history and heritage, while looking to the future.
Meticulous work that respects the environment
The Château Monbrison vineyard is made up of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, planted in two separate plots. High Environmental Value (HVE3) certification testifies to the estate's commitment to sustainable viticulture that respects nature. Château Monbrison has also begun experimenting with bio-biodynamic viticulture.
The work in the vineyard is carried out with great precision, respecting the cycles of nature and the specific needs of the grape varieties. Pruning, thinning out the leaves, green harvesting and manual harvesting are all techniques used to obtain grapes of the highest possible quality. This meticulous, environmentally-friendly approach is also put into practice during vinification.
Careful vinification for exceptional wines
The wines of Château Monbrison are vinified with the utmost care in stainless steel vats, allowing the typicity of the terroir and the finesse of the grape varieties used to shine through. The Vonderheyden family calls on consultant oenologist Eric Boissenot to ensure the quality and consistency of the wines produced.
The winemaking process is meticulously followed, with temperature-controlled alcoholic fermentation, post-fermentation maceration and ageing in French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, depending on the vintage. This approach brings out the best characteristics of each grape variety, producing wines that are both powerful and elegant.
The style of Monbrison wines: elegance and complexity
Château Monbrison produces red Bordeaux wines that combine elegance and complexity. Their modern style, with smoky notes and a discreet woody touch, gives them excellent ageing potential.
The estate's range of wines comprises the first wine, Château Monbrison, and the second wine, Bouquet de Monbrison. Both are outstanding examples of the Margaux appellation, offering immediate pleasure and developing well in bottle. The wines of Château Monbrison are characterised by aromas of black fruit, liquorice, violets and truffles, with a well-balanced tannic structure and a lingering finish.
The estate's team is constantly on the lookout for improvements and innovations, whether in viticulture, winemaking or the marketing of its wines. The efforts made to preserve the environment, improve the quality of the wines and share the estate's passion with wine-lovers around the world have made it a benchmark of the Margaux appellation.
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