The owners of Chantegrive Castle
A family of enthusiasts, generation after generation
The story of theChantegrive CastleTwo collectors,Henri and Françoise LévêqueThey decided to sell their stamp collection to acquire two hectares of vines in the Graves terroir. A wine broker in Bordeaux, Henri Lévêque wanted to realize this dream of one day creating his own wines. Thus began a new adventure for these passionate, visionary wine lovers. Today, their daughter, accompanied by her brothers and sisters,Marie-Hélène Lévêquewho is in charge of the operation.
It's the purestfamily spiritwhich makes Château de Chantegrive a high-quality estate. Tradition dictates that each grandchild of the original owners is given a barrel of wine on the day of their birth. Caroline is therefore one of the nieces of the current owner; she was fortunate enough to be born in a year of abundant yields. Consequently, she will have the privilege of seeing her name on one of the estate's flagship wines. In 2006, the family partnered withHubert de Boüardfrom Château Angelus, in order to improve processes and offer a morehigh quality.
The terroir of the estate
The enhancement of gravel by the Château de Chantegrive
Although the estate initially covered only 2 hectares, it now spans 96 hectares, extending over agravelly ground.THEChantegrive CastleIt is one of the largest and most prestigious estates in the appellation. Located between the Garonne River to the east and the Landes Forest to the west, the estate benefits from protection against extreme weather. The terraced vineyards are planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sémillon, and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The soil retains the day's heat throughout the night, ensuring the vines maintain a stable growth habit.
Invested in theenvironmental causeThe team at Château de Chantegrive makes it a point of honor to use no herbicides and practices atraditional viticultureHowever, with a touch of modernity, the vineyard uses computerized management of its 160 plots. In this way,soil analysisis done regularly to ensure the quality of the crops.
The philosophy of Chantegrive Castle
Respect for the vine and nature
From vine to bottle, great efforts are made by the owners topreserve the environmentWith this in mind, a water treatment plant was built at the vineyard in 2007. In 2017, theChantegrive Castlereceives HVE 3 certification. The weight of the bottles has also been reduced for environmental reasons.
After a hand-harvesting, the grapes macerate for an average of fifteen days. The grapes destined for white wines first undergo a cold fermentation for one month before maceration. The wine is then aged for 12 months in oak barrels, half of which are new. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between the wood and the wine at every stage of the winemaking process at Château de Chantegrive. The result is a charming and balanced wine for Bordeaux wine lovers, revealing delightfulvanilla flavorson a final of considerable length.
