Château des Rochers (Abzac)

Identity

Château des Rochers is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Abzac, in the Gironde. It is part of Vignobles Rousseau, an estate managed by Laurent Rousseau, who represents the fifth generation of winemakers in this family.

History and philosophy

The history of the Rousseau family in the Bordeaux region began with mixed farming and livestock breeding. Over the generations, the focus gradually shifted towards viticulture. The third generation, represented by Raymond Rousseau, began structuring the winegrowing business. Jean Marie Rousseau, of the fourth generation, continued this expansion, notably by ending livestock farming entirely in favour of viticulture on former cereal lands. In the 1980s, the estate undertook a significant modernisation of its cellar, integrating contemporary technologies such as temperature-controlled vats, pneumatic harvest valves, and water recovery systems. Mechanical harvesting was also introduced, and the estate benefited from the expertise of consultant oenologist Michel Rolland. Laurent Rousseau took over management in 2006.

The philosophy of Vignobles Rousseau centres on producing high-quality wines while embracing the principles of sustainable development. This translates into commitments to environmental protection, the preservation of natural resources, as well as a focus on fairness and social responsibility. The estate implements practices dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of its staff. It also welcomes young people with disabilities to train them in vineyard work and packaging. The average length of service of the permanent team of 9 people exceeds 15 years, reflecting strong professional stability. These commitments are validated by various certifications and labels awarded by independent bodies.

The appellations

The estate produces wines across various appellations: Lussac Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur, Lalande de Pomerol, Pomerol, as well as Vin de France.

Practical information

The estate’s headquarters are located in Abzac, 33230. You can contact the estate by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 49 06 10 or by email at laurent@vignoblesrousseau.com. The estate does not offer cellar-door direct sales or accommodation.

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The vineyard (terroir)

Initially, the vineyard comprised 7 hectares in AOC Bordeaux and 2 hectares in Lalande de Pomerol. By the 1980s, the planted area had reached nearly 25 hectares of vines. The estate does not purchase grapes.

Environmental practices have been at the heart of vineyard management for over 20 years. These include planting 7 hectares of nectar-producing fallow land to foster biodiversity, alongside the establishment of hedgerows. An innovative natural bamboo-based reed bed system (phytoremediation) is used for treating winery effluent, and particular attention is paid to reducing chemical inputs in both the vineyard and the cellar.

Flagship cuvées

Château des Rochers offers a diverse range of cuvées. In Lussac Saint-Émilion, the estate produces Château des Rochers, available in 75 cl bottles and 150 cl magnums. Within this same appellation, they also craft the Cuvée « A FUNDO CORDIS ». In Bordeaux Supérieur, the range includes « CA SUFFIT ! », Château HAUT SORILLON, and the Cuvée PRESTIGE from Château HAUT SORILLON. For the Lalande de Pomerol appellation, the estate presents the Cuvée SÉDUCTION, Château LABORDERIE MONDÉSIR, and the Cuvée EXCELLENCE from Château LABORDERIE MONDÉSIR. Château PONT CLOQUET is the estate's Pomerol cuvée.

The estate also produces several wines under the Bordeaux appellation, notably BARON D’ABZAC in red and the TRADITION cuvée in white. Finally, Vin de France offerings are produced: HAUT BARRY in white, PERLE DE ROSÉ in rosé, and FONTENELLE in red.

Vinification and ageing

The vinification cellar was modernised in the 1980s, incorporating technological equipment such as temperature-controlled vats, pneumatic harvest valves, and an air-cooling system. Rigorous grape sorting practices are also carried out, alongside winery water recovery systems.