Château Couhins-Lurton

History of Château Couhins-Lurton

Château Couhins-Lurton has its roots in 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 passing through a turbulent period in the 19th century, with numerous changes of ownership.

In 1967, the estate underwent a decisive turning point with the intervention 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 wine-making facilities restored all of 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 Vineyards 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 vine plots are planted exclusively with Sauvignon Blanc, a variety that finds exceptional expression here. The soil, composed of a mixture of clay, gravel, and limestone, plays a fundamental role in regulating the water supply to the vines, thereby ensuring grapes of outstanding quality, even during drought years. This terroir also helps maintain the acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc, 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. Situated at an altitude of 45 metres, the vines benefit from clay-gravel soils. The clay, more abundant at depth, imparts a freshness and a unique fruitiness to the red wines, characteristic of the wines of Graves. The Merlots from this terroir are renowned for their elegance, their concentration, and their aromas of dark fruits.

Vinifications at Château Couhins-Lurton

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

Vinification of the white wines

The vinification 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 stoneware amphorae, which allows complex aromas to develop and preserves the minerality of the Sauvignon Blanc. Ageing on lees, with regular stirring, lasts approximately 12 months, followed by 4 to 6 months in vats to complete the maturation.

Vinification 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 mark of its terroir and expertise.

Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

A Cru Classé de Graves, this iconic cuvée from the estate is produced exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc. This white wine stands out for 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 fine acidity that gives it great ageing potential. Ageing on 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 de Graves is made 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 imparts a freshness and a minerality to the wines 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 comes 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 quality-to-price ratio.

The vintages of Graves and Pessac-Léognan, two appellations of Bordeaux, are distinguished by 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 de 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 interesting 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 range 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 undergoing a full renaissance, the estate offers a range of refined, elegant, and complex wines. The constant efforts to improve wine quality, combined with a particular attention to the environment, make Château Couhins-Lurton an essential player in the Pessac-Léognan appellation.