A Succession of Illustrious Owners
Property of the Dourthe family
It was during the reign of Louis XV that the property's iconic hunting lodge was built. All that remains of this courtly practice is the emblematic ferret, the symbol of the Château, which endures to this day.
The history of the vine was written later under the influence ofCoutanceauThe Château then bore the name of this illustrious family who started the winemaking business. However, it is to Bruno Devès, a Bordeaux wine merchant and owner of the estate since 1845, that we owe the name we know today. A fervent defender of his gravelly terroir and devoted to its preservation, he used the term "Bellegrave"
In 1855, during the classification of Bordeaux wines,Château Belgrave has risen to the rank of Fifth Growth Classified Wines of the Haut-MédocThe castle's name was officially adopted at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, theDourthe familyhas been managing the vineyard since 1979 and ensuring the modernization of its infrastructure in order to offer consumers a wine that showcases the full complexity of its terroir.
The terroir of Château Belgrave
BELGRAVE OR AN ODE TO THE TYPICAL TERROIR OF BORDEAUX
THE59 hectares of vineyards belonging to Château Belgraveare located on theHaut-Médoc appellationPlaced amongthe Fifth Growth Classified Wines of the Haut-MédocThe estate is located atthe boundary of the Saint-Julien appellationThe property boasts a complex terroir. Two deep layers of gravel lie atop clay subsoils. At the foot of the slopes, these soils give way to a third type of gravel. This composition favors the ripening of late-ripening grape varieties such as Merlot. Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (30%), and Cabernet Franc (5%) share this terroir and benefit from the meticulous care provided by the vineyard teams.Frédéric Bonnaffous.
SCIENCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF WINEMAKING
A great work by the Dourthe family
At the beginning of the 21st century, the Château embarked on soil mapping to obtain the information necessary to improve its winemaking. Indeed, knowing the exact composition of the estate's soils allows the teams toFrédéric Bonnaffousto plant the three king grape varieties of the Bordeaux region and tooptimize viticultureA clear evolution in taste is noticeable between before and after mapping. This viticulture is practiced inreasonedThe vines are planted at high density to control yields. The grapes are harvested within each plot. Vinification takes place plot by plot in 33 stainless steel tanks. The wines offered by theBelgrave Castleare crafted for aging and allow the full complexity of the terroir to express itself. Consequently, these wines, with their remarkable freshness, reveal both power and...typical of the medoc, without overlooking the complexity of a truly feminine wine.
