Château Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse

Estate overview

Château Beauséjour J. Duffau-Lagarrosse is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Émilion, in the Gironde. It is currently managed by Prisca Courtin and Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse, an agricultural engineer and oenologist. The technical team is advised by consulting oenologists Axel Marchal and Julien Viaud, with Camille de Villenaut serving as assistant estate manager.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Beauséjour J. Duffau-Lagarrosse is defined by an enduring family heritage, having been held by the Duffau-Lagarrosse family since 1847. In April 2021, the estate entered a new chapter as Château Beauséjour (formerly “Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse”) when the Clarins Group (Courtin family) became the majority owner, alongside Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse as co-owner. The estate has been classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion since 1955. Committed to environmental stewardship, the property holds Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification and an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

Appellations

The estate produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé appellation, holding Premier Grand Cru Classé status. The second wine is also produced under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

Flagship wines

Château Beauséjour J. Duffau-Lagarrosse crafts its grand vin under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé appellation, representing roughly two-thirds of annual production. The second wine, named Croix de Beauséjour, is likewise made under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. Average annual production is around 200 hectolitres, equivalent to 20,000 to 40,000 bottles depending on the vintage.

Practical information

Château Beauséjour J. Duffau-Lagarrosse is situated at 804 Route de Chatelet, 33330 Saint-Émilion. The estate can be reached by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 24 71 61 or by email at contact@beausejour-jdl.com. Visits are reserved exclusively for wine trade professionals by prior appointment. On-site parking is available. Spoken languages are English and French. The estate office is open Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The property does not offer guest accommodation, catering, direct cellar-door sales, or mail orders.

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The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Beauséjour J. Duffau-Lagarrosse covers an area of 6.8 hectares. It is established on clay-limestone soils characteristic of the Saint-Émilion plateau, featuring calcaire à Astéries on the plateau and ancient colluvial deposits (sands and clays) along the slopes. The lower sections of the property consist of molasse du Fronsadais. Benefiting from a south/south-westerly exposure, the vineyard has a planting density of 8,000 vines per hectare. The average age of the vines is approximately 45 years. The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (74% to 76%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (24% to 26%). Harvesting is conducted entirely by hand.

Vinification and ageing

The wines of Château Beauséjour J. Duffau-Lagarrosse are vinified in concrete vats. Ageing takes place in French oak barrels, 60% of which are new. Since 2010, this maturation has been carried out in the estate's monolithic limestone cellars, where temperatures are naturally maintained between 12°C and 14°C. The ageing period generally ranges from 14 to 16 months.