Château le Grand Verdus

Introduction

Dating back to the Renaissance, Château Le Grand Verdus is quite simply one of a kind. Located in the Entre deux Mers region, the Le Grix de la Salle family takes advantage of this exceptional location, composed of fabulous terroir, to craft great wines. Today, it's Thomas and Edouard who are dedicated to carrying on the family winemaking tradition.

History

Several accounts tell that Château Le Grand Verdus dates back to the Renaissance, to 1579 to be more precise. Arnaud de Bonneau was the first seigneur to reside in this fortified place, built on an ancient fortress. But the property, which was not wine-growing during this period, would become so many centuries later...

In 1810, a man by the name of Claude Deschamps acquired the estate. A well-known architect under Napoleon I, he helped renovate the château. His son took over and married Clothilde Le Grix de la Salle, who left the property to her brother Charles.

The estate has been renowned for 200 years, but a major turning point came with the arrival of an enterprising generation: Philippe Le Grix de la Salle became the first winemaker. This time, we're in 1947, just after the Second World War. This winegrower had to endure many setbacks, including the famous frost wave of 1956, a scourge for the whole of France. Until 1973, Philippe and his wife Francette, who helped him on the estate, were part of a cooperative called "Coopérative de Créon". Two years later, they welcomed their son Antoine and worked together for 20 years.

Family tradition is a must... but it's also very important to the Le Grix de la Salle family, so it's Antoine's sons who take over and today look after a vineyard of international renown, exported to over 20 countries.

Two brothers, one passion

Authenticity... It's a value that's immediately apparent when Antoine, joined by his brother Thomas, opens the doors of this 16th-century building. Today, the two brothers are the protagonists of this family story, rich in know-how that has been passed down for over 70 years. These enthusiasts benefit not only from an estate producing AOC Bordeaux and AOC Super Bordeaux wines, but also from a multi-faceted terroir, with clay-limestone and clay-loam soils. It's a real geological gem...

But what grape varieties are used? We find the famous winning cocktail with a majority of Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. For whites, Sauvignon Blanc dominates, with Sémillon and Muscadelle also making their mark. With a planted area of 100 hectares, the Le Grix de la Salle family has the capacity to produce in all 3 colors (red, white and rosé). What's more, the vines have an average age of 25 years, making them very vigorous and giving the winemakers a choice of bunches to choose from.

The means are therefore made available to be as precise as possible in the vinifications. The stainless steel vats are recent and numerous, so as to always be one step ahead in the elaboration of the cuvées, particularly the Grandes Réserves...