Château Malartic-Lagravière
Château Malartic-Lagravière
#PROPERTY: History & Terroir
The history of Château Malartic-Lagravière
Château Malartic-Lagravière, located in Léognan in the Graves region near Bordeaux, has a fascinating history. It was built at the end of the 18th century by the Maurès de Malartic family, in honor of the eminent admiral Hippolyte Maurès de Malartic. In 1850, Madame Arnaud Ricard acquired the property and gave it its present name by adding Malartic to Lagravière, in tribute to the previous owners.
In 1850, Madame Arnaud Ricard bought the property and gave it its present name. For over a century, the estate remained in the Ricard family, then passed into the hands of the Ridoret and Marly families until 1990, when it was acquired by the Bonnie family.
Listed in the prestigious 1953 Classification des Graves, Château Malartic Lagravière stands out as one of the few estates to be distinguished for both its red and white wines among its peers in the appellation.
In 1997, new impetus was given to the estate with the arrival of Belgian businessman Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie and his wife Michèle. Under their leadership, the estate underwent a major renovation, both in the vineyards (replanting, extension of the estate) and in the wine-making facilities (new winery equipped with modern vats). Their children, Jean-Jacques and Véronique, join them in this family adventure. The Count Admiral de Malartic's ship, the Minerve, becomes the estate's emblem, symbolizing its history and heritage.
The Bonnie family, owners of Château Malartic-Lagravière
In 1996, Château Malartic Lagravière was transferred from the Ricard family to the Bonnie family, who continue to manage it today. Véronique Laplane and her brother Jean-Jacques Bonnie are the current owners of the estate. They work closely with their oenologist, Éric Boissenot. In addition to Château Malartic-Lagravière, the family has owned Château Gazin-Rocquencourt since 2005 and the DiamAndes bodega in Argentina. The vineyard has been certified High Environmental Value (HVE-3) since 2015.
Château Malartic-Lagravière terroir
Château Malartic Lagravière, a 73-hectare vineyard just outside Bordeaux, is a Graves Cru Classé based in Léognan, in the Gironde department. The terroir of Château Malartic-Lagravière is remarkable and contributes greatly to the quality of its wines. Situated on a high terrace deeply cut by the Eau Blanche stream and its tributaries, the vineyard enjoys a privileged position. The Malartic croup is reputed to be one of the highest quality in the region, with soils located on the high "Günz" terrace, made up of 8-metre-deep gravelly islands.
The name "Lagravière" underlines the exceptional quality of the soils, which consist mainly of fine gravel, shell limestone and veins of clay. These soils offer excellent surface drainage thanks to the gravel layer, while the shell limestone subsoil retains a large water reserve, ensuring a perfect water supply for the vines, even during periods of drought.
The Malartic terroir also benefits from optimum sunshine and reduced sensitivity to climatic variations, essential factors in the production of quality wines. The Bonnie family's customized, environmentally-friendly vineyard management optimizes these conditions year after year.
The use of Malartic's mosaic of terroirs enables us to create unique blends, highlighting the exceptional richness of this age-old terroir. Research into the particularities of each lieu-dit enables us to express the full diversity and complexity of the terroir in the wines produced by Château Malartic-Lagravière.
#WINES FROM THE DOMAIN: Appellations and Cuvées
The Pessac-Léognan appellation
The Pessac-Léognan appellation is located in the Bordeaux wine-growing region of France, covering around 1,600 hectares of vineyards and including some 30 châteaux.
Pessac-Léognan red wines are made from classic Bordeaux grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and possibly Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. These wines are often characterized by aromas of black fruits, spices and woody notes resulting from ageing in oak barrels.
The white wines of Pessac-Léognan are mainly produced from Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes, sometimes complemented by a little Muscadelle. They are distinguished by their freshness, liveliness and aromatic complexity, with aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, white flowers and sometimes mineral notes.
Discover our selection of Pessac-Léognan wines
Château Malartic-Lagravière cuvées
Red wines :
Château Malartic-Lagravière
Le Comte de Malartic
La Réserve de Malartic
White wines :
Château Malartic-Lagravière
Le Comte de Malartic
La Réserve de Malartic
Château Malartic-Lagravière, whose winemaking and ageing methods oscillate between tradition and modernity, enjoys worldwide renown and is highly esteemed by wine lovers. Its wines are intense, complex, fine and elegant, appealing to connoisseurs the world over.
The red wines display remarkable density, balanced by notable freshness. Their concentration is harmoniously counterbalanced by elegant tannins, offering refined, lively aromatic power. As for the white wines, they stand out for their freshness, balance and richness of fruit, accompanied by a velvety texture and tannic complexity that faithfully reflect the Malartic terroir.
The estate's second wines, such as Comte de Malartic red and white, and Réserve de Malartic red and white, follow the same philosophy of quality as the grand vin, offering elegant, gourmet wines that are inviting to savor.
Top vintages of Château Malartic-Lagravière wines 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023
#IN BRIEF: Figures
Region : Bordeaux
Appellation : Pessac-Léognan
Surface area : 73 hectares (66 ha Red, 7 ha White)
Red grape varieties : 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet franc
White grape varieties : 78% Sauvignon blanc, 22% Sémillon
Vine cultivation : Raisonnée