Château Desmirail

Overview

Château Desmirail is a Troisième Cru Classé in the 1855 classification, located in the commune of Margaux-Cantenac, in Gironde. The estate is managed by Denis Lurton, who acts as both managing director and winemaker. Consultant oenologist Antoine Médeville and cellar master Alexandre Trocherie also contribute to crafting the wines. The estate is certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE 3) and has received accolades such as the “Best Of Wine Tourism” and the “Vignobles et Découvertes” label.

History and philosophy

Château Desmirail owes its name to Jean Desmirail, who shaped the estate's history from the late 17th century. The property became part of the Lurton family in 1980 through its acquisition by Lucien Lurton. In 1992, Denis Lurton took over the reins of the estate, opening a new chapter for the château. He has since spearheaded various modernisations while respecting its heritage, as exemplified by the historic Médoc-style vat room, built in 1894 and still operational, and the 18th-century chartreuse.

The estate's philosophy is centred on sustainable viticulture. Vineyard practices exclude all chemical herbicides and insecticides. Soil management is carried out using traditional ploughing, and vineyard interventions are tailored to climatic conditions and disease pressure. The estate has been a member of the Union des Grands Crus since 2009.

Appellations

Château Desmirail primarily produces wines under the Margaux appellation. The estate also crafts wines under the Haut-Médoc appellation and the IGP Atlantique.

Practical information

Château Desmirail is located at 28, Avenue de la Vème République, 33460 Margaux-Cantenac. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 88 34 33 for general enquiries or on +33 (0)5 57 88 57 14 for tours. The email address is contact@desmirail.com. The estate welcomes visitors for tours and tastings by appointment throughout the year, except during week 52. In high season (May to late October), the estate is open daily from 9:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 18:00. In low season (November to late April), opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 18:00. The vat room is systematically included in the tour. The château is also available to host private and corporate events.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Desmirail vineyard extends over 35 hectares. It is planted on deep Quaternary Garonne gravel soils. The parcels are spread across three main sectors: Cantenac, Soussans and Arsac.

The grape varieties, predominantly red, comprise Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Merlot (42%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Petit Verdot (3%). The average age of the vines is approximately 25 to 30 years, with a planting density of 8,500 vines per hectare.

Flagship cuvées

The estate's Grand Vin is Château Desmirail, a still red wine that can be enjoyed young for its vibrant fruit or after several years of bottle ageing. It is composed predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

The estate's second wine is Initial de Desmirail, named in reference to Denis Lurton's initials featured on the château gates. The estate also produces another second wine, Iris Pourpre de Desmirail, under the Haut-Médoc appellation. Additionally, a cuvée named La Perle de Desmirail is made under the IGP Atlantique, including a saignée rosé version. A white wine project featuring grape varieties such as Chenin and Sauvignon has also been introduced.

Vinification and ageing

Vinification at Château Desmirail is carried out in a traditional manner with a plot-by-plot approach. It takes place in a vat room equipped with stainless steel and wooden vats, some of which replaced older vats in 1999 and remain mounted on the original stone plinths. Fermentation and maceration last around three weeks. Decisions regarding the separation of free-run wine from the marc and the pressing of the pomace are determined through careful tasting. The wines are then aged in oak barrels, with around 50% new oak, for an average duration of 12 months.