Château Monbrison

The history of the estate

Château de Monbrison took on its current name when it was purchased in 1922 by Robert Meacham Davis, an American pastor married to the daughter of a Médoc wine enthusiast, owner of Château Dauzac and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. A small, peaceful family vineyard, the arrival of the Second World War led to the uprooting of the vines in 1939 and Robert Davis's enlistment in the US Army in 1940.

It was in the aftermath of peace that their youngest daughter, Elizabeth, took over the reins of the estate with her husband Christian Vonderheyden. Elizabeth was joined by her son in 1976, who followed her in her passion and know-how until her death in 1992. Passionate and talented, Jean-Luc Vonderheyden was one of the forerunners of the Margaux appellation, notably in certain growing techniques such as green harvesting.

His son, Laurent Vonderheyden, joined the estate in 1992 and has been running it ever since, building on the strength of more than a decade spent as a wine merchant in the United States. The family estate has since been integrated into the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB).

More recently, Laurent and his children have received HVE certification for the estate, and are working on converting the vineyard to biodynamic agriculture (plot-based biodynamic experiments have already been launched).

Terroir

Château de Monbrison is located in the heart of the Margaux appellation, spread over 15.5 hectares of vines on the plateau at the exit of the Arsac commune towards Margaux. On this exceptional terroir, soils and climates are in perfect harmony. The thick Pyrenean gravel provides good natural drainage and abundant fertility for the vines, while the relatively humid climate (close to the Gironde and the Atlantic Ocean), combined with mild winters and good seasons, ensures that the vines thrive and stay healthy.

Naturally, the majority of these parcels are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A small quantity of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot complete the vineyard.

Since 2015, Château Monbrison has also developed the cultivation of AOC Haut-Médoc wines, on 6.5 hectares of clay-limestone soil planted with Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons.

The wines

The Château Monbrison is the grand vin, flagship of the estate. Perfect expression of terroir. A blend of many typically Bordeaux grape varieties, it features Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that sublimate the blends, balanced by silky tannins, powerful fruitiness and measured acidity. A typical wine for laying down, which can be aged for a good twenty years.

The Bouquet de Monbrison is the estate's second wine. A blend wine, it is made from plots of the youngest vines (less than 20 years old). On the nose, Bouquet de Monbrison offers lively red fruit aromas, supported on the palate by soft, candied tannins. Still very fresh, this wine can be enjoyed after 5-10 years' cellaring to reveal its full potential.