Château Bastor-Lamontagne

Identity

Château Bastor-Lamontagne is located in the commune of Preignac, in the Gironde department. It is currently owned by the Helfrich family through the Groupe des Grands Chais de France. Joseph Helfrich serves as chairman and Pietro Pastore is the technical director.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Bastor-Lamontagne spans three centuries. Documented as early as 1711, the estate was once a royal property. In the 18th century, the Chevalier de la Montaigne made a lasting impact on the estate, followed in the 19th century by Amédée Larrieu. In 2014, the estate joined the Groupe des Grands Chais de France portfolio. Château Bastor-Lamontagne is committed to environmentally responsible viticulture, having attained certified organic farming status (Agriculture Biologique) in 2016.

Appellations

Château Bastor-Lamontagne produces wines under the Sauternes appellation. Certain sources also mention the Barsac appellation.

Practical information

Château Bastor-Lamontagne is located at La Montagne Est, 33210 Preignac. For enquiries, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 56 63 27 66 or by email at contact@bastorlamontagne.com (or bastor@bastor-lamontagne.com).

The estate cellar shop is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00 from October to April. From May to September, it is open Tuesday to Saturday during the same hours. Tours and tastings are available by appointment. Various experiences are offered, such as a one-hour discovery tour to explore the history, winemaking techniques, and terroir. The 1.5-hour collection tour unveils the estate's secrets followed by a tasting of five wines. Original tours on all-terrain electric scooters are also available (1.5 hours). For food lovers, a 1.5-hour gourmet tasting is offered, alongside brunches (1.5 hours) and dinners at the Château.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Bastor-Lamontagne covers around fifty hectares, with documented surface areas ranging between 51 and 58 hectares. The soils are silica-gravel. The average vine age is 35 years. Grape varieties are dominated by Sémillon (between 76% and 97% depending on sources and vintages) and Sauvignon Blanc (between 2% and 24%). A small proportion of Sauvignon Gris is also recorded (1% for the 2016 vintage). The estate harvests entirely by hand and holds organic certification. The property also includes between 5 and 35 hectares of woodland parkland. The estate does not purchase external grapes.

Signature cuvées

The estate's flagship wine is Château Bastor-Lamontagne. The property also produces a second wine, Les Remparts de Bastor-Lamontagne (also known as Sauternes Remparts de Bastor). A micro-cuvée called Cru Bordenave (Sauternes Cru Bordenave) is also offered. The So Sauternes cuvée is another reference from the estate. The wines undergo ageing for 12 to 18 months, with around 30% new oak barrels.

Vinification and ageing

The wines of Château Bastor-Lamontagne benefit from 12 to 18 months of ageing, with 30% matured in new oak barrels.