Château Cantegril

Identity

Château Cantegril is a winegrowing estate located in Barsac, in the Gironde department. It is currently owned by the Dubourdieu family, with Fabrice and Jean-Jacques Dubourdieu at its helm since 2016. The château is attached to the legal entity EARL Pierre et Denis Dubourdieu.

History and Philosophy

The origins of Château Cantegril date back to the Middle Ages, featuring an old fortified castle. It notably belonged to the Duc d’Epernon, then to the lords of Cantegril, before passing through the families Ségur Montagne, Charles Rodberg (Belgian consul in Bordeaux), and Emile Raymond. Historically, the estate was united with Château Myrat through marriage, before a separation in 1854, confirmed by a civil court judgment on 24 December 1862.

Château Cantegril is mentioned among the *seconds crus* of Barsac in various editions of the work « Bordeaux et ses vins classés par ordre de mérite » by Charles Cocks and Edouard Ferret, notably in 1874, 1881, 1886, 1893, 1898, 1908, 1922, and 1929.

The L’Hermite-Mansencal family, Denis Dubourdieu's maternal great-grandparents, acquired the estate in 1924. André Mansencal managed it until 1978. Subsequently, Pierre Dubourdieu took the helm until 2000, before Denis Dubourdieu succeeded him. Since 2016, his sons, Fabrice and Jean-Jacques Dubourdieu, have been the current managers, perpetuating the family heritage.

The Appellations

Château Cantegril produces wines under the Barsac and Sauternes appellations. The plots are located on the limestone plateau of Haut-Barsac, within the Sauternais region.

Winemaking and Ageing

Harvests are carried out manually through successive passes (*tries*), allowing for the selection of grapes affected by noble rot. Must fermentation is performed in barrels, with separation by pass and by plot. A pre-blend takes place approximately three months after harvest.

The wine is then aged in barrels for an average duration of 12 months, contributing to the refinement of its structure and aromatic complexity.

Practical Information

Address: 10, Gravas, 33720 Barsac, France

Telephone: +33 05 56 27 33 65

Email: aline@denisdubourdieu.fr

Tastings at the property are possible. Visits are by appointment at Château Doisy-Daëne, from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm.

Find out more

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château Cantegril spans an area of 10.5 hectares, specifically dedicated to the production of sweet wines under the Barsac appellation. The vines, with an average age of approximately 60 years, are planted on a limestone plateau characterised by a 40-centimetre layer of red clay on the surface.

The primary grape variety in this vineyard is Sémillon, complemented by Sauvignon Blanc for certain cuvées, as evidenced by the blend of some vintages.

Flagship Cuvées

Château Cantegril is primarily renowned for its sweet wine. This still white wine typically stands out with an elegant and mineral profile. The blend of a vintage such as 2011 was composed of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon.