Château Coufran

Identity

Château Coufran is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne. It is currently managed by Marie-Cécile Vicaire and Éric Miailhe.

History and Philosophy

The existence of Château Coufran is documented in 18th-century archives, which record the noble house of "Cousran". Following the French Revolution, the property was acquired by Jean-Valère Cabarrus. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Célérier family took ownership of the estate.

In 1924, the Miailhe family purchased Château Coufran. Louis Miailhe undertook a restructuring of the vineyard, choosing to plant predominantly Merlot Noir. Today, the estate is dedicated to environmentally friendly practices, certified by Level 2 Agriculture Respectueuse de l’Environnement en Aquitaine (AREA).

Appellations

Château Coufran produces wines under the Haut-Médoc appellation, in the Médoc sub-region.

Practical Information

For production and sales, the address is: Château Coufran – 33180 Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne. Telephone contact is +33 5 56 59 31 02 or +33 6 80 31 68 78, and email is emiailhe@coufran-verdignan.com.

For administration and accounts, the address is: 24, cours de Verdun – 33000 Bordeaux. The telephone number is +33 5 56 44 90 84, and the email is contact@chateau-coufran.com.

Estate visits are available by appointment only, for both trade professionals and private visitors. On-site tastings are available. Direct cellar-door sales are not offered, but mail order is available. The estate does not provide accommodation.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

Château Coufran's vineyard covers an area of 76 hectares. It is established on lean gravel hilltops, characterised by dry, sandy gravels situated along the estuary. The average age of the vines is 40 years.

The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot (85%), complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (15%).

Viticultural practices include cover cropping, leaf thinning after flowering, and green harvesting, all aimed at optimising grape ripeness. The harvest is carried out on a plot-by-plot basis, beginning with the Merlot and concluding with the later-ripening Cabernet varieties. Picking is carried out both manually and mechanically.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate's primary wine is Château Coufran, a still red wine distinguished by a Merlot-dominated blend.

The estate's second wine is N°2 de Coufran. The property also produces a third cuvée, Château La Rose Maréchale.

Vinification and Ageing

Vinification is conducted according to traditional Bordeaux methods in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Cellar work—including pump-overs, punching down, and rack-and-return (délestage), as well as maceration time—is tailored to the characteristics of each vintage and the desired wine profile. The estate's consultant oenologist is Éric Boissenot.

Only two-thirds of the production is selected for the grand vin. Ageing takes place in French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, with 25% new oak renewed each year.

For packaging, the estate uses "extra heavy" bottles and natural cork closures. Starting with the 2005 vintage, the lot number is engraved on each bottle.