Château Monbrison

The history of the estate

Château de Monbrison took its present name when it was purchased in 1922 by Robert Meacham Davis, an American pastor married to the daughter of a Medoc wine enthusiast who owned Château Dauzac and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. A small, peaceful family vineyard, the arrival of World War II led to the uprooting of the vines in 1939 and then to Robert Davis' enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1940.

It was in the aftermath of peace that their youngest daughter, Elizabeth, took over the reins of the estate with her husband Christian Vonderheyden. Elizabeth is joined by her son in 1976, who accompanies her in her passion and her knowledge until her death in 1992. Passionate and talented, Jean-Luc Vonderheyden is one of the precursors of the Margaux appellation, especially in certain cultivation techniques such as green harvesting.

Since 1992, his son, Laurent Vonderheyden, joined the estate and runs the property, after more than a decade of trading in the United States. The family property has since been integrated into the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB).

More recently, Laurent and his children have received HVE certification for the estate, and are working on converting the vineyard to biodynamic agriculture (plot-based biodynamic experiments have already been launched).

The terroir

Château de Monbrison is located in the heart of the Margaux appellation, spread over 15.5 hectares of vines on the plateau at the exit of the commune of Arsac towards Margaux. On this exceptional terroir, we find the perfect harmony between soils and climates. The very thick Pyrenean gravels allow a good natural drainage as well as an abundant fertility to the vine, while the relatively wet climate (proximity with the Gironde and the Atlantic Ocean), combined with the winter mildness and that of the good seasons, allows to bring to the vine growth and good health.

Naturally, the majority of the grapes grown on these parcels are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Then, a small quantity of Cabernet Franc and Petits Verdots complete the vineyard.

Since 2015, Chateau Monbrison has also developed the cultivation of AOC Haut-Medoc wines, on 6.5 hectares of clay-limestone soil planted with Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons.

The wines

The Chateau Monbrison is the great wine, the flagship of the property. Perfect expression of the terroir. A blend of many typical Bordeaux grape varieties, it features Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots that sublimate the blends, balanced by silky tannins, powerful fruitiness and measured acidity. A typical wine for laying down, which can be aged for a good twenty years.

The Bouquet de Monbrison is the second wine of the estate. A blended wine, it is made from plots of the youngest vines (less than 20 years old). On the nose, Bouquet de Monbrison offers lively aromas of red fruits, supported on the palate by soft and candied tannins. Still very fresh, this wine can be enjoyed after 5-10 years of keeping to offer its full potential.