Château de la Dauphine

The History of the Dauphine Castle

The Château de la Dauphine was built by Jean-Baptiste de Richon, between 1744 and 1750. He was a renowned lawyer, officiating at the Parliament of Paris, Civil and Criminal Judge of the Duchy of Fronsac. The Château de la Dauphine takes its name from the visit of Marie-Josèphe de Saxe who came to stay there. As the wife of Louis-Ferdinand of France, the Dauphin, son of Louis XV, she is the Dauphine of France. She is also the mother of Louis XVI.

In 1985, François-Régis Marcetteau de Brem, then owner of the Chateau de la Dauphine, gave it to the Moueix family who kept it until 2000. The estate was then bought by Jean Halley. His son Guillaume inherits it at the death of his father in 2011. The estate was renovated to give it new scope and optimize its terroir.

In 2015, it is the Labrune family's turn to take over the Château de la Dauphine. It continues the renovation efforts of the previous owners. The new operators take the opportunity to turn then to organic viticulture and biodynamics.

The Chateau de la Dauphine vineyard

The Château de la Dauphine vineyard covers 53 hectares benefiting from a southern exposure. The terroir has the particularity of possessing the shape of an amphitheater with a 60-meter difference in level between the highest and the lowest parcel.

The soil of the Château de la Dauphine is very rich and above all very varied. There are no less than 14 types of soil which are classified in three main groups:

-A clay-limestone slope on shallow Fronsadais molasse;
-The clay-limestone plateau
-A sandy silty clay hillside on clay subsoil.

The vineyard is led in reasoned viticulture, which allows it to obtain its organic certification AB in 2015. Chemicals are banned and replaced by natural preparations composed of plants, minerals and animal manure, mixed and applied according to the lunar calendar. The rhythm of nature is respected, both for the environment and for the quality of the wines and the well-being of those who make them.

Since 2018, the estate is certified HVE, High Environmental Value level 3. It also has the Environmental Management System label. Water and energy consumption is regulated and biodiversity is protected.

The wines of Château de la Dauphine - La Dauphine - red

The red wine of La Dauphine has an intense purple color. Its nose is fruity, with a dominant of black currant and blackberry. We find aromas of cigar box. The mouth is round, ample and velvety. The Dauphine can be drunk young, but will improve if you keep it as a wine to keep.