Discover the Château Millaud Montlabert
A great wine, it’s the combination of the terroir, the work, and the human.
Saint-Émilion
The history of Château Millaud Montlabert
Divided into two parts, this vineyard, mostly facing west of Saint-Émilion, is planted on a vein of land that produces some of the most prestigious crus of Saint-Émilion. To the east, adjacent to this vineyard, lies Château Montlabert; to the west, Château Figeac; and to the north, the equally renowned Château Cheval Blanc.
It is highly likely that this estate was once linked to Château Montlabert, a magnificent 18th-century neo-classical manor located just 250 meters from the current estate. Official documents mentioning the Cazes family, who owned the property for several centuries, refer to adjoining outbuildings used separately as housing or stables. Various sales over time may have divided the structure, including a transaction in 1862 by the administrators of the commune of Libourne.
Subsequently, it appears that the property that is now Millaud Montlabert was acquired by the Bordes family in 1872. It changed ownership in 1919 when the Millaud family took over, marketing their harvest and thus adding their name to the Château.
The vineyard
Appellations :
The terroir
Geographical location: East of the Bordeaux vineyard.
Château Millaud-Montlabert is located in the heart of the prestigious Saint-Émilion appellation, a historic town classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Nestled on exceptional terroir, its clay-limestone soil and ideal microclimate give its wines a unique identity.
Combining tradition and modernity, Château Millaud-Montlabert produces wines of great finesse, which reveal their elegance and complexity over time.
The vines of Château Millaud Montlabert
The vineyard of Château Millaud-Montlabert, with an average age of over 30 years, spans an exceptional terroir. The grape varieties highlight the emblematic varieties of Bordeaux, with a predominance of Merlot (70%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). Each grape variety is carefully planted according to the characteristics of the soil to fully express the richness and elegance of our terroir.
The works on the vines
Our philosophy is based on a daily proximity to our vines, which we observe and care for throughout the year. This constant attention and our thorough knowledge of the terroirs allow us to optimize the compatibility between rootstock, grape variety, and soil, while adopting a targeted approach in the fight against diseases. As a result, we significantly reduce the frequency of treatments required, prioritizing a more environmentally respectful viticulture.
Parcel selection also plays a key role in our pursuit of excellence. It allows us to identify the unique potential of each plot and vinify homogeneous lots of high quality. A thorough analysis of the soils highlights their strengths and constraints, enabling us to precisely adapt the vineyard work according to the specificities of each plot, ensuring the fullest expression of our terroir’s richness.
The winemaking
We rigorously select the best grapes from the estate, harvested early in the morning while still cool to preserve their aromatic purity. A cold pre-fermentation maceration lasting 24 to 48 hours is then carried out to gently extract the aromas and color.
Alcoholic fermentation takes place in concrete vats at a controlled temperature of around 26°C, followed by a gentle maceration for three weeks at 30°C to encourage the extraction of the finest tannins. During the draining and pressing stages, the free-run and press juices are carefully separated to maintain the balance and complexity of the wine.
Malolactic fermentation occurs in concrete vats at 18°C, followed by meticulous aging in oak barrels for 12 months, with 70% new wood and 30% one-wine barrels, adding structure and elegance to the wine.
