Château Desmirail

Once belonging to the great Rauzan estate in the mid-17th century, under the ownership of Pierre de Mesures de Rauzan, the Château Desmirail property was eventually divided over time. At the time of the 1855 Classification, the estate had been separated to form Château Rauzan-Gassies, Château Rauzan-Ségla, Château Desmirail, and Château Marquis de Terme. Jean Desmirail gave his name to the château after marrying an heiress from the Rauzan family in the late 17th century. Desmirail was classified as a Third Growth in the famed 1855 Classification, due to its outstanding terroir bordering on the Route des Châteaux. The elegant 18th century manor house is located behind a majestic gate made of pink marble. The cellar features a vat room typical of those from the late 19th century Médoc. The vineyards feature gravelly soils, those that make up the best of the Left Bank of the Gironde. The estate is made up of approximately 30 hectares, with vines that reach 25-years of age on average, 60% are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, while the remainder is mostly dedicated to Merlot at 39% and a mere 1% is used to produce Cabernet Franc. The current owner and manager, Denis Lurton, took over from his father, Lucien, in 1992. He has invested in modernizing the estate on a regular basis ever since. Today, Château Desmirail produces smooth, elegant wines in the classic Margaux style.