Denis Lurton - Château DESMIRAIL

The history of the estate

The name Desmirail has been linked to the wine world since the end of the 17th century. Located in the Médoc, Château Desmirail remained a property until the middle of the 19th century when it was bought by Mr. Sipière, manager of Château Margaux. In 1855, Chateau Desmirail was classified as the third Grand Cru.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the estate passed into the hands of Robert de Mendelssohn, before being bought by Martial Michel. The latter sold the estate on the eve of the Second World War. Bought by the Chateau Palmer company, the property was later sold in 1980 to Lucien Lurton, an iconic figure in the Bordeaux vineyards.

The latter passed on the property to his children in 1992. The eldest will take over the estate, modernize it and develop it in order to continue to make this grand cru classé shine.

The terroir

The vineyard of Chateau Desmirail is located in the heart of the Margaux appellation, a famous Bordeaux wine-growing region renowned throughout the world for its grand cru wines, characterized by their finesse and elegance.

At the junction of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary, the vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir and microclimate. The soils, composed of gravels, come from the quaternary period, and shape the typicality of this terroir. The gravels are indeed known to store the sun's heat and give it back to the vine to ensure the regulation of the water system.

This exceptional terroir is particularly conducive to the development of grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon (which dominates 70% of the cultivated area), Merlot (29%) and Petit Verdot (1%). Blended, each of these three grape varieties brings structure, roundness, fruitiness and tannins to the wines.

In total, the estate covers about forty hectares, cultivated with respect for the environment according to the principles of sustainable agriculture. The treatment of the soil and the vine, the harvest, the vinification and the maturation are adapted to the specificities of each year.

The wines

The Château Desmirail is an elegant, tightly woven grand cru. Its color is a deep ruby full of generosity. Its nose, very greedy, mixes notes of red fruits and spices. On the palate, we find beautiful aromas and a nice roundness thanks to the Merlot which comes to bring suavity.

Ideal for many meats, we can think of a roasted lamb, a braised rack of veal, or a thick rib of beef accompanied by pan-fried ceps.