Château Couhins-Lurton

History of Château Couhins-Lurton

Château Couhins-Lurton traces its roots back to the 17th century, at a time when it still bore the name "Bourdieu de La Gravette". The estate, then belonging to the Banchereau family, saw several Bordeaux notaries succeed one another at its helm before going through a turbulent period in the 19th century, with numerous changes of ownership.

In 1967, the estate experienced a decisive turning point with the involvement of André Lurton, an iconic figure in the Bordeaux wine world. By preventing the uprooting of the vines and taking over the management of the estate, he ensured the preservation of this unique terroir. It was also during this period that the current name "Château Couhins-Lurton" came into being. Through a series of successive acquisitions, the Lurton family gradually reconstituted the entire vineyard.

In 1992, André Lurton purchased the château, the cellars and the outbuildings, ushering in a new era of modernisation and innovation. The restoration work on the estate and the reconstruction of the winemaking infrastructure restored all their grandeur to this historic property. Today, under the direction of Jacques Lurton, Château Couhins-Lurton continues to produce wines of remarkable quality, acclaimed by critics.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Couhins-Lurton

The terroir of Château Couhins-Lurton benefits from unique geological and climatic characteristics that give its wines their distinctive personality. The estate extends over approximately 25 hectares, divided between plots dedicated to white and red grape varieties.

Terroir of the white wines

The 5.5 hectares of white vines are planted exclusively with Sauvignon Blanc, a grape variety that finds an exceptional expression here. The soil, composed of a mix of clay, gravel and limestone, plays a fundamental role in regulating the water supply to the vines, thus ensuring grapes of outstanding quality, even during drought years. This terroir also promotes the preservation of the Sauvignon Blanc's acidity, which is essential to the finesse and freshness of the wines.

Terroir of the red wines

The red vineyard, which extends over 12.5 hectares, is planted primarily with Merlot, complemented by a small proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. Located at an altitude of 45 metres, the vines benefit from clay-gravel soils. The clay, more abundant at depth, gives the red wines a freshness and a unique fruitiness, characteristic of the wines of Graves. The Merlots from this terroir are renowned for their elegance, their concentration and their aromas of dark fruits.

Winemaking at Château Couhins-Lurton

Expertise and precision in winemaking are at the heart of the quality of the wines of Château Couhins-Lurton. Every step, from the harvest to the ageing, is carried out in respect of the typicity of the terroir and the grape varieties.

Winemaking of the white wines

The winemaking of the white wines of Château Couhins-Lurton begins with a manual harvest, carried out early in the morning to preserve the freshness of the berries. The grapes are then cooled in a cold room before being gently pressed. Fermentation takes place in oak barrels and sandstone amphorae, which allows complex aromas to develop and preserves the minerality of the Sauvignon Blanc. Ageing on the lees, with regular stirring, lasts approximately 12 months, followed by 4 to 6 months in vats to perfect the maturation.

Winemaking of the red wines

The red wines of Château Couhins-Lurton are produced with meticulous attention. After a manual harvest and rigorous sorting, the grapes are destemmed before being fermented in stainless steel vats and barrels. The wine is then aged for 12 months in 225 and 500-litre barrels, with a balance of 50% new oak and 50% one-year-old oak. After this period, it continues its ageing in vats for an additional 8 months. Bottling takes place approximately 20 months after the harvest.

The cuvées of Château Couhins-Lurton

Château Couhins-Lurton offers two great cuvées, each bearing the hallmark of its terroir and expertise.

Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

A Cru Classé de Graves, this iconic cuvée of the estate is produced exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc. This white wine is distinguished by its freshness, its finesse and its delicate aromas of white fruits, citrus and white flowers. Thanks to the clay-limestone terroir, the wine develops a beautiful acidity that gives it great ageing potential. Ageing on the lees brings complexity and an elegant texture on the palate.

Château Couhins-Lurton Rouge

Although the estate is primarily renowned for its white wines, Château Couhins-Lurton also produces a remarkable red wine. This Fine Wine of Graves is crafted predominantly from Merlot, with a small proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon. The red wines of the estate are elegant, silky and concentrated, with intense aromas of dark fruits and fine tannins. The clay-gravel terroir gives the wines a freshness and a minerality that set them apart from other wines of the region.

Acte II

In addition to its great wines, Château Couhins-Lurton also offers a second label, Acte II, for its red and white wines. This cuvée is sourced from carefully selected plots and offers a more accessible expression, while retaining the identity of the estate. Acte II was launched with the 2020 vintage and is aimed at lovers of refined wines at an excellent price-to-quality ratio.

The vintages of Graves and Pessac-Léognan, two appellations of Bordeaux, stand out for their consistent quality. The years 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990 are particularly appreciated for their finesse and balance. The vintages 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are also remarkable for their structure and ageing potential. More recently, the vintages 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 confirm the continuity of this excellence, with wines offering both elegance and longevity.

Explore the full range of Grands Crus Classés de Graves, an appellation renowned for the diversity and quality of its wines. At the top of the list, the Premier Grand Cru Classé of 1855, Château Haut-Brion of Pessac-Léognan, is a historic benchmark. For red and white wines, estates such as Château Bouscaut, Château Carbonnieux, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier, Château Latour-Martillac and Domaine de Chevalier offer compelling cuvées. On the red side, you will be able to discover the wines of Château Fieuzal, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Latour Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Château Pape-Clément and Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. White wine lovers can turn to the productions of Château Couhins, Château Couhins Lurton and Château Laville Haut-Brion. These estates offer you a wide array of wines to discover at the heart of the Graves region.

Château Couhins-Lurton embodies the heritage of an exceptional terroir and the expertise of several generations of passionate winemakers. Whether through its white wines, ranked among the finest in Graves, or its reds in full renaissance, the estate offers a range of refined, elegant and complex wines. The constant efforts to improve the quality of the wines, combined with particular attention paid to the environment, make Château Couhins-Lurton an essential player in the Pessac-Léognan appellation.