Château d'Archambeau

Identity

Château d'Archambeau is a winegrowing estate whose history is closely tied to the Dubourdieu family, who own and manage it. Jean-Philippe Dubourdieu and his son Samuel Dubourdieu are the winemakers and managers, with the former also serving as cellar master and vineyard manager. The estate is situated in the commune of Illats, in the Gironde department.

History and Philosophy

The Dubourdieu family has owned Château d'Archambeau since 1975, perpetuating a family tradition spanning several generations. The estate is committed to farming methods that respect both tradition and the environment. Soil fertilisation is carried out exclusively using compost. The estate is not certified biodynamic.

Appellations

Château d'Archambeau produces wines under the Graves appellation, which is its primary designation. The estate also produces wines under the Bordeaux Rosé appellation. The vineyard is located in the commune of Illats.

Practical Information

Château d'Archambeau is located in the commune of Illats (33720). Tastings are available at the estate, along with direct wine sales. The property also offers holiday cottage accommodation (gîte). Among the activities offered, a wine and chocolate pairing workshop has previously been hosted.

• Telephone: +33 5 56 62 51 46
• Email: chateau-archambeau@wanadoo.fr

Find out more

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard of Château d'Archambeau covers an area of 30 hectares in a single continuous parcel. It is set on the ridge and the south/south-western slopes of the Archambeau hillside, between Barsac and Cérons, reaching a maximum altitude of 55 metres. This elevated position helps protect the vines from late spring frosts. The soils are predominantly gravelly, with locally clay-limestone zones and clay-gravel parcels on the slopes.

The estate's grape varieties include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, and Sémillon.

Flagship Cuvées

Château d'Archambeau offers several cuvées, reflecting the diversity of its terroirs and grape varieties.

• The red Château d'Archambeau, often crafted with a predominance of Merlot (for instance, 50% Merlot blended with the Cabernets in certain vintages, or equal parts with Cabernet Sauvignon in others), offers wines with aromatic depth and balanced structure. Production for some vintages can reach around 80,000 bottles.
• The white Château d'Archambeau is predominantly made from the Sauvignon grape (70% in certain vintages). It is sometimes aged in oak barrels, as in the 2011 vintage which underwent three months of ageing, contributing to the complexity of its structure.
• The estate also produces a rosé wine named L'Eté d'Archambeau, delivering a fresh, fruit-forward expression.
• Château Mourlet blanc is another cuvée, predominantly crafted from Sauvignon.

Vinification and Ageing

Harvesting is carried out both by hand and mechanically. The white wines of Château d'Archambeau may undergo barrel ageing, such as three months for certain vintages. The estate favours compost fertilisation, illustrating its environmentally conscious approach to viticulture.