Château de Léognan

The history of the winery

The origins of the estate date back to the 17th century. At the time, the monks of Saint Jean owned the 550-hectare estate and its sheepfolds, "la métairie de Caudéran". The château was built in 1870 on the initiative of Mathieu Seurin, who owned the property at the time. He also built stables, an aviary and a dovecote.

The next owner, Jean Marie DUBOS, continued to develop the estate by building a gallery and creating a pond. During the 19th century, the estate became a favorite haunt of the upper middle classes. François Mauriac even used it as a setting for one of his novels.

The estate was divided in the early 20th century. The discovery of sandy gravel soil near the pond led the owner to plant several hectares of vines, in collaboration with the owner of the neighboring Cru Classé. The rest of the vineyard was planted in 1989.

The vineyard

The terroir

Planted at the end of the 80s, the vines are cultivated according to the traditions of the Grands Crus of Pessac-Léognan. The grape varieties are 30% Merlot and 70% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Château Léognan's environment is exceptional, set in an unspoilt natural environment that the owners are keen to protect. The vineyard is surrounded by a natural forest rich in biodiversity.

The impact of viticultural practices is minimized as much as possible. Great care is taken with every gesture, the vines are pruned in double guyot, the terroir is meticulously analyzed to bring treatments adapted to the specificities of each plot and to the climatic conditions.

Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand, and every effort is made to preserve the berries, from picking in "cagettes" to reception in the winery. The grapes are sorted first on an automatic sorting table, then by hand, to ensure that only those in perfect condition and of the highest quality are kept.

Commitments

Implementing practices that are as natural and respectful of the environment as possible has enabled the estate to obtain HVE (high environmental value) certification.

Soil preparation has replaced treatments. Ploughing aerates the soil and encourages deep rooting. To limit impact, ploughing is carried out by horses. Insecticides are entirely banned from the vineyard.

Natural balances are encouraged, with female pheromone diffusers and the use of sexual confusion to eradicate flavescence dorée and grape worm.

Bats control nocturnal insects and cochylis, ladybugs control aphids, and so on. Beehives have also been installed on the estate, and their good health is an excellent indicator of the state of the vineyard's environment.

The wines

"Château Léognan" is a prestigious cuvée, the grand vin of the estate. It has received several awards, including the Gilbert et Gaillard gold medal in 2018. It's a well-balanced red wine, full-bodied and velvety, with finesse and beautiful aromatic complexity. It has aromas of ripe red fruits and crunchy fruits, as well as spicy notes. A decanting allows it to express its full potential.

The second wine "Le calice de Léognan" is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a racy, subtle wine, with a deep ruby color and dark highlights. Full-bodied on the palate, with intense aromas of blackcurrant and Morello cherry. The estate also produces another red wine, "le renaissance", two white wines and a rosé, "le renaissance rosé by Château Léognan".