Château D'Arsac

The history of Château d'Arsac

The seigneury of Arsac belongs to the history of the Médoc, as Guillaume Géraud d'Arsac was its owner from the dawn of the 12th century. In the 16th century, the archives mention one of its owners, Thomas de Montaigne, brother of the great poet Michel Eyquem de Montaigne. The latter's friend, the no less famous Étienne de la Boétie, evoked the Médoc in these few laudatory verses:

"O Médoc, solitary and wild country, There is no country more pleasing to my eyes. You're at the end of the world, and I love you better for it".

Subsequently, Château d'Arsac had a number of owners, including Ernest Dubosc, who increased the estate's size to become the largest winegrowing operation in the Médoc at the end of the 19th century - and perhaps even in France - with 250 hectares of vines and farm buildings.

When Philippe Raoux bought Château d'Arsac in April 1986, he found the buildings in ruins - including the château reduced to a chicken coop! - and only three hectares of vines remaining.

At the cost of colossal investment and hard work, Château d'Arsac has been restored to its former glory. Its completely remodeled vineyard produces some of the finest grapes in the region, and half of it is now classified as AOC Margaux, then promoted to the rank of Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.

In 1996, Château d'Arsac was awarded the Golden Best Of by the International Network of Great Wine Capitals in San Francisco, in the Art/Culture section.

The Château d'Arsac vineyard

The Château d'Arsac estate covers 250 hectares, including 108 hectares of vines. 54 hectares belong to the Margaux appellation, 50 hectares to the Haut Médoc appellation and 4 hectares to the Bordeaux Blanc Sauvignon appellation. The altitude of the plots peaks at 33 meters with the Monteil hill, at the heart of the estate.

The terroir consists of a sandy-gravelly croup, mixed with a fairly thin layer of clay. The majority grape variety is Cabernet Sauvignon, which covers 70% of the vineyard.

Château d'Arsac uses integrated farming methods and is certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) level 3, the highest level of the label. It is also an Iso 14001-certified member of the Association pour le Système de Management Environnemental.

The wines of Château d'Arsac

Château d'Arsac - Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel Appellation Margaux Contrôlée
Red wine composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot.

Kid d'Arsac - Appellation Margaux Contrôlée
Kid d'Arsac is the second red wine in AOC Margaux, composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

Le Monteil d'Arsac - AOC Haut-Médoc Appellation Haut-Médoc Contrôlée
Red wine made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.

Cuvée Céline - AOC Bordeaux blanc Appellation Bordeaux Blanc Contrôlée
White wine composed entirely of Sauvignon.

Cuvée Scooter - AOC Bordeaux rosé Appellation Bordeaux Rosé
Rosé wine made entirely with Cabernet Sauvignon.