Château Boutisse

Estate Overview

Château Boutisse is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. It is managed by the Milhade family, with Marc Milhade and Élodie Richard-Milhade at the helm. Marc Milhade also serves as cellar master and oenologist. The estate was promoted to Grand Cru Classé in 2022.

History and Philosophy

The existence of Château Boutisse has been documented since 1783 on Pierre de Belleyme's map of Guyenne. It was acquired by the Milhade family in 1996. As early as 2010, the estate embarked on a progressive environmental approach, resulting in several certifications and a philosophy focused on sustainable practices, favouring freshness and persistence in the wines alongside a restrained use of oak. In 2022, the estate was awarded the Grand Prix d'Or at the Trophées Bordeaux Vignoble Engagé.

The Appellations

Château Boutisse produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

Practical Information

Château Boutisse is located at 24 route du Plateau, 33330 Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 50 33 33 or by email at contact@chateau-boutisse.fr. The tasting room is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, from January to December. The estate offers on-site tastings and tours, and can accommodate groups. It features visitor parking, restroom facilities, and disabled access. Languages spoken are English, Spanish, and French. Direct cellar-door sales and mail orders are available. The estate also offers wine tourism activities, including hot-air balloon flights over the vineyard, launched in 2019.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Boutisse vineyard spans approximately 25 hectares in a single continuous parcel. It is located in the commune of Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, on limestone hillsides. The soils are clay-limestone, composed of red and brown clays resting on a shallow bedrock of starfish limestone (calcaire à astéries). The vines benefit from a predominantly south-eastern exposure and have an average age of around 40 years. The grape varieties are dominated by Merlot (approx. 80%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (approx. 12%), Cabernet Franc (approx. 5%), and a small proportion of Carménère (approx. 3%). The estate stopped using herbicides over a decade ago and obtained Agriculture Biologique (organic) certification with the 2023 vintage, following HVE Level 3 certification in 2018 as well as ISO 14001 and EMS compliance.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate's primary wine is Château Boutisse, a still red wine. It is crafted from the estate's grape varieties and undergoes ageing that may include oak barrels and amphorae. The estate also produces a second wine, Baron de Boutisse. A new range of wines, "Vol Libre", is currently in development. It will feature single-varietal wines with no added sulphites, made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Carménère, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Vinification and Ageing

Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand. Vinification takes place in various types of vats, including barrels, stainless steel, and concrete tanks. Ageing for the grand vin, Château Boutisse, is conducted in new oak barrels (approx. 30%), second-fill barrels and older (approx. 63%), with a small portion (approx. 7%) aged in other vessels, including amphorae and 400-litre casks. The overall proportion of new oak generally does not exceed 25%.